2020 Kiribati parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections in Kiribati were originally planned on 7 April 2020, with a second round of voting to be held on 15 April 2020.[1] However, in late March the Electoral Commission changed the voting date to 14 April 2020,[2] with a second round on 21 April 2020.[3]
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All 44 seats in the House of Assembly 23 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||
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| This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Kiribati |
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The elections resulted in President Taneti Maamau's pro-China Tobwaan Kiribati Party losing a majority in parliament to parties either supportive of Taiwan or critical of his handling of diplomatic recognition of China.[4] But on 26 May, the 44 MPs were equally divided on 2 benches : 22 MPs supporting the new Boutokaan Kiribati Moa Party and the 22 MPs of the former majority.
Electoral system
Of the 45 members of the Maneaba ni Maungatabu, 44 are elected in 23 single- and multi-member constituencies (seven with one seat, eleven with two seats and five with three seats)[5] using a modified two-round system. One member of the Maneaba is chosen by the Rabi Council of Leaders to represent the Banaban community on Rabi Island in Fiji. The Attorney general was also an ex-officio member when not elected (until October 2016).[6] The Speaker is elected after the elections, from outside the Maneaba, and does not participate in votes.[7]
Voters have as many votes to cast as the number of seats in their constituencies. In the first round a candidate is elected if he or she receives more than 50% of the ballots cast.[5] Where not all seats are filled, a second round is held with the number of candidates being equal to the number of seats remaining to be filled plus two, with those who received the fewest votes in the first round being eliminated. A tie in the second round results in a third round of voting.[6]
The first meeting of the new session was held on 22 May.
Results
| Party | First round | Second round | Total seats |
+/– | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | |||
| Boutokaan Kiribati Moa Party | 22 | |||||||
| Tobwaan Kiribati Party | 22 | |||||||
| Independent | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Speaker (not MP) | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1* | 0 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 46 | – | – | 32 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 38,445 | 100 | 23 | 27,203 | 100 | 21 | 45 | 0 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 44,271 | 86.84 | – | 30,953 | 87.88 | – | – | – |
| Source: Radio Kiribati | ||||||||
List of elected members
| Constituency | Political party[9] | Member | Assumed office | Notes[10] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makin | Tobwaan Kiribati Party | James Taom | 2020 | 798 votes in the first round out of 1066 voters (1st) | |
| Pillars of Truth | Pinto Katia | 2020 | 786 votes in the first round out of 1066 voters (2nd) | ||
| Butaritari | Tobwaan Kiribati Party | Alexander Teabo | 2020 | 776 votes in the first round out of 1446 voters (2nd) | |
| Kiribati First Party | Tinian Reiher | 2020 | 932 votes in the first round out of 1446 voters (1st) | ||
| Marakei | Tobwaan Kiribati Party | Ruateki Tekaiara | 2020 | 869 votes in the first round out of 1279 voters (1st) | |
| Moannata Ientaake | 2020 | New MP, 644 votes in the first round out of 1279 voters (2nd) | |||
| Abaiang | Pillars of Truth | Kautu Tenaua | 2020 | 1025 votes at second round on 2293 voters (2nd) | |
| Tobwaan Kiribati Party | Teuea Toatu | 2020 | 1128 votes at second round on 2293 voters (1st), confirmed Vice-President of Kiribati | ||
| Betero Atanibora | 2020 | New MP, 974 votes at second round on 2293 voters (3rd) | |||
| North Tarawa | Harry Tekaiti | 2020 | New MP, 1718 votes at second round on 3283 voters (1st) | ||
| Terieta Mwemwenikeaki | 2020 | New MP, 1398 votes at second round on 3283 voters (2nd) | |||
| Pillars of Truth | Boutu Bateriki | 2020 | 1197 votes at second round on 3283 voters (3rd) | ||
| South Tarawa | Taabeta Teakai | 2020 | New MP, 4180 votes at second round on 8779 voters (1st) | ||
| Pillars of Truth | Shiu-Fung Jong | 2020 | 4081 votes at second round on 8779 voters (2nd) | ||
| Tobwaan Kiribati Party | Taoaba Kaiea | 2020 | 3092 votes at second round on 8779 voters (3rd), defeating Kourabi Nenem | ||
| Betio | Tinte Itinteang | 2020 | New MP, 2352 votes at second round on 5316 voters (1st) | ||
| Tobwaan Kiribati Party | Ioteba Redfern | 2020 | 2041 votes at the second round on 5316 voters (2nd) | ||
| Tobwaan Kiribati Party | Tebao Awerika | 2020 | 1993 votes at the second round on 5316 voters (3rd), defeating Tangariki Reete, 1950 votes | ||
| Maiana | Koraubati Remuera | 2020 | New MP, 705 votes in first round out of 1070 voters (1st) | ||
| Pillars of Truth | Vincent Tong | 2020 | New MP, 498 votes at second round on 1056 voters (2nd), defeating David Collins | ||
| Kuria | Kiribati First Party | Banuera Berina | 2020 | 344 votes in the first round out of 629 voters. Nominated candidate for the 2020 Beretitenti election | |
| Aranuka | Martin Moreti | 2020 | Returning MP, 346 votes in the first round out of 625 voters | ||
| Abemama | Tobwaan Kiribati Party | Willie Tokataake | 2020 | 778 votes in the first round out of 1456 voters (1st) | |
| Tessie Lambourne | 2020 | New MP, 758 votes in the first round out of 1456 voters (2nd), defeating Natan Teewe | |||
| Nonouti | Pillars of Truth | Ieremia Tabai | 2020 | First President of Kiribati, 640 votes in second round out of 1357 voters (1st) | |
| Kiribati First Party | Bonteman Tabera | 2020 | 629 votes at second round on 1357 voters (2nd) | ||
| Tabiteuea North | Pillars of Truth | Taberannang Timeon | 2020 | 755 votes in the first round out of 1482 voters (2nd), defeating Kobebe Taitai, 750 votes | |
| Tarakabu Tofinga | 2020 | New MP, candidate as Tarakabu Martin, 805 votes in the first round out of 1482 voters (1st) | |||
| Tabiteuea South | Booti Nauan | 2020 | New MP, 315 votes at second round on 729 voters | ||
| Onotoa | Tobwaan Kiribati Party | Taneti Maamau | 2020 | 5th President of Kiribati, nominated for re-election, 698 votes in the first round out of 814 voters (1st) | |
| Taiaki Irata | 2020 | New MP, 415 votes in the first round out of 814 voters (2nd) | |||
| Beru | Bwatoromaio Kiritian | 2020 | New MP, 586 votes in the first round out of 1076 voters (2nd) | ||
| Pillars of Truth | England Iuta | 2020 | 728 votes in the first round out of 1076 voters (1st) | ||
| Nikunau | Tobwaan Kiribati Party | Tauanei Marea | 2020 | 436 votes in the second round out of 864 voters (1st) | |
| Ribanataake Tiwau | 2020 | New MP, 390 votes at second round on 864 voters (2nd), defeating Rimeta Beniamina, 387 | |||
| Tamana | Tobwaan Kiribati Party | Tekeeua Tarati | 2020 | 384 votes in the first round out of 445 voters | |
| Arorae | Pillars of Truth | Teima Onorio | 2020 | 275 votes in the first round out on 469 voters, former Vice-President of Kiribati | |
| Kiritimati | Tobwaan Kiribati Party | Mikarite Temari | 2020 | 1820 votes at second round on 3526 voters (1st) | |
| Kiribati First Party | Jacob Tieikabu Teem | 2020 | 1434 votes at second round on 3526 voters (2nd) | ||
| Bakaia Kiabo | 2020 | New MP, 1344 votes at second round on 3526 voters (3rd), defeating Kirata Temamaka, 1290 votes, and Kataebati Bataua, 1291 votes | |||
| Tabuaeran | Kiribati First Party | Tekiau Aretateta | 2020 | 510 votes in the first round out of 788 voters (1st) | |
| Kiribati First Party | Tewaaki Kobae | 2020 | 483 votes in the first round out of 788 voters (2nd) | ||
| Teraina | Kiribati First Party | Nantongo Timeon | 2020 | 506 votes in the first round out of 779 voters | |
| Banaba | Kiribati First Party | Tibanga Taratai | 2020 | 127 votes in the first round out of 169 voters | |
| Rabi Island | Kariamakin Airu Christopher | 29 April 2020 | Nominated by the Rabi Council of Leaders | ||
Candidates
The Ministry of Justice communicated the official list of candidates running this general election.[11]
References
- Kiribati to go to polls for elections in April Radio New Zealand, 6 March 2020
- 44,929 registered for elections Radio Kiribati, 26 March 2020
- RNZ, 21 April 2020
- Pala, Christopher (23 April 2020). "Pro-China Kiribati president loses majority over switch from Taiwan". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- Kiribati Pacific Women in Politics
- Kiribati Election Passport
- Last elections IPU
- "Current Members". Parliament of Kiribati (Maneaba ni Maungatabu). Retrieved 9 July 2019.
- "Party Members". Parliament of Kiribati (Maneaba ni Maungatabu). Retrieved 9 July 2019.
- "Current Ministers". Parliament of Kiribati (Maneaba ni Maungatabu). Retrieved 9 July 2019.