2024 Kiribati presidential election explained

Country:Kiribati
Type:presidential
Vote Type:Popular
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2020 Kiribati presidential election
Previous Year:2020
Next Election:2029 Kiribati presidential election
Next Year:2028
Election Date:25 October 2024
Registered:53,000
Image1:File:Taneti Maamau 2023 (cropped 3 by 4).jpg
Candidate1:Taneti Maamau
Party1:Tobwaan Kiribati Party
Popular Vote1:15,239
Percentage1:53.7%
Candidate2:Kaotitaake Kokoria
Party2:Independent
Popular Vote2:12,354
Percentage2:43.5%
President
Before Election:Taneti Maamau
Before Party:Tobwaan Kiribati Party
After Election:Taneti Maamau
After Party:Tobwaan Kiribati Party

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

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

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

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.

Results

Data incomplete. The Electoral Commission is yet to publish the official results for all electoral districts.

By electoral district

Vote share by electoral district!Electoral district!Bautaake
Beia!Kaotitaake
Kokoria!Taneti
Maamau!Valid
ballots!Invalid/blank
ballots!Total
ballots cast!Registered
voters!Turnout (%)!source
Abaiang819671043209142095317666.0BPA
Abemama37598824145961465208270.4BPA
Aranuka13217271501050172669.0BPA
Arorae1630364383038353072.3BPA
Banaba336111150015022068.2BPA
Beru294524729535958119780.0BPA
Betio125210827204953114964785563.2BPA
ButaritariAwaiting data
Fanning (Tabuaeran)9862999702972110887.7BPA
Kiritimati (includes Kanton)9914831280286282870387974.0BPA
KuriaAwaiting data
MaianaAwaiting data
Makin332974287582760111168.4BPA
MarakeiAwaiting data
Nikunau312696399392941114382.3BPA
NonoutiAwaiting data
North TabiteueaAwaiting data
Onotoa389758790279293085.2BPA
Rural Tarawa (North Tarawa)Awaiting data
South Tabiteuea157438496149764876.7BPA
Tamana7125142274027442065.2BPA
Tarawa Teinainano (South Tarawa)2174320543099674610,01315,82363.3BPA
Washington (Teraina)83171520774077495081.5BPA
Total000

Notes and References

  1. News: Needham . Kirsty . 15 August 2024. Kiribati president retains seat in first stage of national election . Reuters . 20 August 2024.
  2. News: Wiseman . Don . 29 September 2024 . Kiribati to vote for president on 25 October . RNZ News . 30 September 2024 . 30 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240930011856/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/529353/kiribati-to-vote-for-president-on-25-october . live .
  3. News: 25 October 2024. Kiribati Elects Pro-China President Maamau For Third Term . Barron's . 4 November 2024 . 6 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241106030855/https://www.barrons.com/news/kiribati-elects-pro-china-president-maamau-for-third-term-24bbfd37 . live.
  4. News: Biiko Bingke . 1 November 2024. Taneti Maamau Officially Inaugurated as President of Kiribati . Broadcasting & Publications Authority (Kiribati) . 4 November 2024 . 6 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241106031458/https://news.bpa.org.ki/2024/11/01/taneti-maamau-officially-inaugurated-as-president-of-kiribati/ . live.
  5. Web site: Republic of Kiribati - Election for Kiribati Presidency . IFES ElectionGuide . 20 August 2024.
  6. Kiribati Constitution . section 32(2) . 1979. 5 October 2024.
  7. Election of Beretitenti Act (Cap.29B) . section 4(c) (formerly section 5(c)) . 1980. 6 October 2024.
  8. Election of Beretitenti Act (Cap.29B) . section 5 (as amended in 2002) . 1980. 6 October 2024.
  9. Web site: Election of Te Beretitenti . Parliament of Kiribati . 5 December 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151205025324/http://www.parliament.gov.ki:80/content/election-te-beretitenti . dead.
  10. Web site: Application by Attorney-General re Interpretation of Section 32(2) of the Constitution [2020] KIHC 14 ]. Pacific Islands Legal Information Institute (PacLII) . 6 October 2024.
  11. Web site: Wiseman . Don . Taneti Maamau in pole position to be president again as Kiribati's lawmakers choose speaker . RNZ Pacific . Radio New Zealand . 30 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240929094857/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/527938/taneti-maamau-in-pole-position-to-be-president-again-as-kiribati-s-lawmakers-choose-speaker . 29 September 2024 . 14 September 2024.
  12. News: Renaua Kaata . 13 September 2024 . Willie Tokataake - Tibiika ae ะต 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 . Gilbertese . Te Uekera . Kiribati . 5 October 2024.
  13. Web site: Wiseman . Don . Tessie Lambourne claims Kiribati 'now a one-party state', takes aim at Taneti Maamau's leadership . RNZ Pacific . Radio New Zealand . 30 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240929095158/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/528864/tessie-lambourne-claims-kiribati-now-a-one-party-state-takes-aim-at-taneti-maamau-s-leadership . 29 September 2024 . 24 September 2024.
  14. Web site: Gazettes & Instruments (2024) . Republic of Kiribati Presidential Web Portal . 5 October 2024 . 5 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241005120858/https://www.president.gov.ki/resources/gazettes-instruments.html.
  15. Web site: Wiseman . Don . Kiribati presidential candidates release manifestos . RNZ Pacific . Radio New Zealand . 10 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241010012817/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/530382/kiribati-presidential-candidates-release-manifestos . 10 October 2024 . 10 October 2024.
  16. News: Biiko Bingke . 2 October 2024 . Who Will Lead? Presidential Candidates Announce Their Manifestos! . Broadcasting & Publications Authority (Kiribati) . 5 October 2024 . 5 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241005115938/https://news.bpa.org.ki/2024/10/02/who-will-lead-presidential-candidates-announce-their-manifestos/ . live .
  17. Web site: Wiseman . Don . Kiribati boycott planned after presidential vote becomes a one horse race . RNZ Pacific . Radio New Zealand . 6 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241002005116/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/529627/kiribati-boycott-planned-after-presidential-vote-becomes-a-one-horse-race . 2 October 2024 . 2 October 2024 . live .
  18. Web site: 2024-10-25 . Kiribati election drama: Ruling party candidate defects to challenge incumbent president . 2024-10-25 . . en-nz.