2024 Kiribati presidential election
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| Registered | 53,000 | |||||||||||||||
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 Map of margin of victory by electoral district | ||||||||||||||||
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Presidential elections were held in Kiribati on 25 October 2024, [1][2] following parliamentary elections in August. Incumbent President Taneti Maamau of the Tobwaan Kiribati Party was re-elected with about 55% of the vote, to Kaotitaake Kokoria's 42%.[3] The inauguration proceeded on 1 November 2024.[4]
Background
[edit]The president is directly elected by plurality vote from three or four candidates nominated by and from among members of the House of Assembly.[5][6] The parliament sits as soon as possible after the general election to elect a new Speaker and choose the candidates for the presidential election. If only three or four nominations are received, the Speaker declares those members to be the candidates for the election.[7] If more than four nominations are received, parliament votes by secret ballot in two rounds to eliminate the surplus nominees.[8][9] The Constitution does not (on its face) envisage a situation where fewer than three candidates are nominated, but the 2020 Kiribati presidential election proceeded with only two candidates. This was held to be constitutional by the High Court.[10]
Candidate selection
[edit]The 2024 parliamentary election resulted in a supermajority for the ruling Tobwaan Kiribati Party, which was then able to block the nomination of opposition party candidates for the presidential election when parliament sat on 13 September 2024. The TKP nominated incumbent president Taneti Maamau, alongside three other members of the TKP described as "dummy candidates": Bautaake Beia from Washington (Teraina), Riteta Iorome from Onotoa, and Kaotitaake Kokoria from Fanning (Tabuaeran), all first-time members of parliament.[11][12]
Opposition leader Tessie Lambourne decried the move, saying "Kiribati is now a one-party state."[13]
Campaign
[edit]On 30 September 2024 the manifestos of three of the candidates were published.[14][15] It was later reported that candidate Riteta Iorome had withdrawn.[16]
Opposition figures, including former president Ieremia Tabai, called for a boycott of the election, in protest at the exclusion of opposition candidates.[17] Prior to the election being held, Kaotitaake Kokoria defected away from the TKP to form a new alliance, with the support of two other MPs.[18] Taneti Maamau was widely expected to retain his position.[11]
Results
[edit] | This section needs to be updated. (October 2024) |
Data incomplete. The Electoral Commission is yet to publish the official results for all electoral districts.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taneti Maamau | Tobwaan Kiribati Party | 15,239 | 53.70 | |
| Kaotitaake Kokoria | Independent[b] | 12,354 | 43.53 | |
| Bautaake Beia | Tobwaan Kiribati Party | 787 | 2.77 | |
| Total | 28,380 | 100.00 | ||
| Valid votes | 28,380 | 99.69 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 89 | 0.31 | ||
| Total votes | 28,469 | 100.00 | ||
| Registered voters/turnout | 41,798 | 68.11 | ||
| Source: [citation needed] | ||||
By electoral district
[edit]| Electoral district | Bautaake Beia |
Kaotitaake Kokoria |
Taneti Maamau |
Valid ballots |
Invalid/blank ballots |
Total ballots cast |
Registered voters |
Turnout (%) | source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abaiang | 81 | 967 | 1043 | 2091 | 4 | 2095 | 3176 | 66.0 | BPA |
| Abemama | 37 | 598 | 824 | 1459 | 6 | 1465 | 2082 | 70.4 | BPA |
| Aranuka | 13 | 217 | 271 | 501 | 0 | 501 | 726 | 69.0 | BPA |
| Arorae | 16 | 303 | 64 | 383 | 0 | 383 | 530 | 72.3 | BPA |
| Banaba | 3 | 36 | 111 | 150 | 0 | 150 | 220 | 68.2 | BPA |
| Beru | 29 | 452 | 472 | 953 | 5 | 958 | 1197 | 80.0 | BPA |
| Betio | 125 | 2108 | 2720 | 4953 | 11 | 4964 | 7855 | 63.2 | BPA |
| Butaritari | Awaiting data | ||||||||
| Fanning (Tabuaeran) | 9 | 862 | 99 | 970 | 2 | 972 | 1108 | 87.7 | BPA |
| Kiritimati (includes Kanton) | 99 | 1483 | 1280 | 2862 | 8 | 2870 | 3879 | 74.0 | BPA |
| Kuria | Awaiting data | ||||||||
| Maiana | Awaiting data | ||||||||
| Makin | 33 | 297 | 428 | 758 | 2 | 760 | 1111 | 68.4 | BPA |
| Marakei | Awaiting data | ||||||||
| Nikunau | 31 | 269 | 639 | 939 | 2 | 941 | 1143 | 82.3 | BPA |
| Nonouti | Awaiting data | ||||||||
| North Tabiteuea | Awaiting data | ||||||||
| Onotoa | 3 | 89 | 758 | 790 | 2 | 792 | 930 | 85.2 | BPA |
| Rural Tarawa (North Tarawa) | Awaiting data | ||||||||
| South Tabiteuea | 1 | 57 | 438 | 496 | 1 | 497 | 648 | 76.7 | BPA |
| Tamana | 7 | 125 | 142 | 274 | 0 | 274 | 420 | 65.2 | BPA |
| Tarawa Teinainano (South Tarawa) | 217 | 4320 | 5430 | 9967 | 46 | 10,013 | 15,823 | 63.3 | BPA |
| Washington (Teraina) | 83 | 171 | 520 | 774 | 0 | 774 | 950 | 81.5 | BPA |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Needham, Kirsty (15 August 2024). "Kiribati president retains seat in first stage of national election". Reuters. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ Wiseman, Don (29 September 2024). "Kiribati to vote for president on 25 October". RNZ News. Archived from the original on 30 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ "Kiribati Elects Pro-China President Maamau For Third Term". Barron's. 25 October 2024. Archived from the original on 6 November 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ Biiko Bingke (1 November 2024). "Taneti Maamau Officially Inaugurated as President of Kiribati". Broadcasting & Publications Authority (Kiribati). Archived from the original on 6 November 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ "Republic of Kiribati - Election for Kiribati Presidency". IFES ElectionGuide. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ Kiribati Constitution. 1979. section 32(2). Retrieved 5 October 2024.
- ^ Election of Beretitenti Act (Cap.29B). 1980. section 4(c) (formerly section 5(c)). Retrieved 6 October 2024.
- ^ Election of Beretitenti Act (Cap.29B). 1980. section 5 (as amended in 2002). Retrieved 6 October 2024.
- ^ "Election of Te Beretitenti". Parliament of Kiribati. Archived from the original on 5 December 2015.
- ^ "Application by Attorney-General re Interpretation of Section 32(2) of the Constitution [2020] KIHC 14". Pacific Islands Legal Information Institute (PacLII). Retrieved 6 October 2024.
- ^ a b Wiseman, Don (14 September 2024). "Taneti Maamau in pole position to be president again as Kiribati's lawmakers choose speaker". RNZ Pacific. Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 29 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ Renaua Kaata (13 September 2024). "Willie Tokataake - Tibiika ae е boou n ana Mwaneaba ni Maungatabu Kiribati; Tebenako Araia Taan Kauaaba n te Beretitenti" [Willie Tokataake - new Speaker for Kiribati Parliament; Candidates for presidential election selected]. Te Uekera (in Gilbertese). Kiribati. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
- ^ Wiseman, Don (24 September 2024). "Tessie Lambourne claims Kiribati 'now a one-party state', takes aim at Taneti Maamau's leadership". RNZ Pacific. Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 29 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ "Gazettes & Instruments (2024)". Republic of Kiribati Presidential Web Portal. Archived from the original on 5 October 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
- ^ Wiseman, Don (10 October 2024). "Kiribati presidential candidates release manifestos". RNZ Pacific. Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 10 October 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ Biiko Bingke (2 October 2024). "Who Will Lead? Presidential Candidates Announce Their Manifestos!". Broadcasting & Publications Authority (Kiribati). Archived from the original on 5 October 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
- ^ Wiseman, Don (2 October 2024). "Kiribati boycott planned after presidential vote becomes a one horse race". RNZ Pacific. Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 2 October 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
- ^ "Kiribati election drama: Ruling party candidate defects to challenge incumbent president". RNZ. 25 October 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
