2024 Kiribati Parliamentary Election

Parliamentary elections were held in Kiribati in 2024 to elect members of the Maneaba ni Maungatabu, with the first round held on 14 August and the second on 19 August.

Electoral system

Of the 45 members of the Maneaba ni Maungatabu, 44 are elected in 23 single and multi-member electoral districts (seven with one seat, eleven with two seats, and five with three seats) using a modified two-round system. The 45th member of the legislature is nominated by the Banaban community resident on Rabi Island in Fiji.

A voter has as many votes to cast as the number of seats in their electoral district. In the first round, a candidate is elected if they receive more than 50% of the ballots cast. When 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. In the second round, voters have as many votes to cast as there are vacancies remaining. The top candidates are elected even if they do not receive a majority. A tie in the second round results in a third round of voting.

For the 2024 election, there are nearly 53,000 registered voters.

Issues

Among issues prominent during the election were inflation, rising sea levels, public spending, the national debt, and relations with China. In 2019 Kiribati President Taneti Maamau ended the nation's longstanding diplomatic recognition of Taiwan, instead recognizing the People's Republic of China. This caused a rift within his own government which resulted in the fiercely fought election in 2020. This switch has strained relations between Kiribati and various Pacific nations, as well as Australia, Kiribati's long-time traditional trade partner. This was coupled with Maamau withdrawing Kiribati from the Pacific Islands Forum claiming that the organization was no longer serving Kiribati's interests. Senior opposition figure Banuera Berina, who split from Maamau's Tobwaan Kiribati Party (TKP) due to the Chinese issue, called the nation's relationship with the PRC as "not healthy for the country". Additionally, Rimon Rimon, a local investigative journalist, described the island nation as "a landscape of fear" as Maamau and the TKP have created a political system dominated by personal patronage over party affiliation, where those with close ties to the government find it far easier to win elections due to being allocated government resources.

The Maamau-led government has partnered with the PRC on a series of infrastructure projects to boost the island's fishing and tourism industries, as well as letting the PRC rebuild a World War II-era American airbase on Kanton, roughly halfway between Hawaii and Fiji. In 2021 Maamau abolished the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, opening the area up for more PRC fishing vessels. Opposition candidates have also accused the TKP of being financially backed by the PRC, claiming that the PRC is funneling money into political coffers to prevent a change in the nation's leadership. In an effort to weaken the opposition, in August 2022 Maamau sought to deport High Court justice David Lambourne, husband of Leader of the Opposition Tessie Eria Lambourne. This move was initially blocked by Kiribati’s Court of Appeal. By September 2022 Maamau's attacks on the Judiciary had resulted in the suspension of Chief Justice William Hastings and all Court of Appeal judges, in a move that has been labeled as democratic backsliding and as autocratic.

Results

A total of 114 people ran in the election, of which 18 were women. Out of the 44 seats to be contested, four candidates were declared elected unopposed at the close of nominations on 24 July 2024 - Tinian Reiher and Alexander Teabo from Butaritari, Bootii Nauan from South Tabiteuea and Tekeeua Tarati from Tamana. All four were incumbents, with three (Alexander, Bootii and Tekeeua) being Ministers in the outgoing TKP government.

First round

By 16 August, the full results for the first round were released, with the outcomes broadcast locally and online by Radio Kiribati. Of the 44 seats, 25 seats were decided and 19 seats (across 12 electoral districts) will require a second round on 19 August. President Taneti Maamau comfortably retained his seat in Onotoa. Six members lost their seats, including Minister for Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy, Willie Tokataake in Abemama. Three women were elected, including Leader of the Opposition in the last Parliament, Tessie Eria Lambourne, in Abemama. Seven women will contest the second round in five electoral districts (Arorae, Betio, Fanning (Tabuaeran), North Tabiteuea and Tarawa Teinainano). If voting trends from the first round continue through to the second round, Kiribati could have as many as seven women in the new Parliament, which would be a record number. Late on 15 August the Ministry of Culture and Internal Affairs (under which the Electoral Commission sits) published official results for the first round elections in all but the Tarawa Teinainano electoral district. On 17 August the Office of the President published a full list of the results on its official Facebook page.

Second round

Voting commenced at 7:00am and continued until 6:00pm. All results had been declared by 1:30pm in Tarawa on 20 August. Eight more members lost their seats, including Minister for Culture and Internal Affairs, Boutu Bateriki in Rural Tarawa, and Minister for Labour and Human Resources Development, Taabeta Amuera Teakai in Tarawa Teinainano. Also unseated was former Vice-President Teima Onorio, regained her seat in Betio. 'Father of the House', Ieremia Tabai, was elected to serve his 12th term as one of the two members from Nonouti. For the first time the Parliament will have a husband and wife as members, with Lavinia Teatao Teem from Abaiang and Jacob Teem representing Kiritimati. On 20 August the Ministry of Culture and Internal Affairs published a full list of the results on its official Facebook page.

In summary, 27 members retained their seats. Sixteen members were elected to Parliament for the first time, including three female members. Tangariki Reete returns to Parliament after losing her Betio seat in 2020. A total of five women were elected to the new Parliament, a record for Kiribati. Fourteen members of the outgoing Parliament lost their seats, including three TKP Ministers. With nearly 53,000 registered voters, the first round saw an overall turn-out of 87.14%. The turn-out for the second round was 83.52%.

The new Parliament will sit for the first time on 13 September 2024. After being sworn in, members will elect a new Speaker and determine the candidates for the presidential election. The presidential election is likely to take place in mid-October.

By electoral district

An asterisk (*) indicates an incumbent Member of the Maneaba ni Maungatabu, while an obelisk (†) indicates a female candidate. The names of the electoral districts are as prescribed in the relevant legislation.

Sources: Office of the President and Ministry of Culture and Internal Affairs

Abaiang

(3 seats)

Abemama

(2 seats)

Aranuka

(1 seat)

Arorae

(1 seat)

Banaba

(1 seat)

Beru

(2 seats)

Betio

(3 seats)

Butaritari

(2 seats)

Fanning (Tabuaeran)

(2 seats)

Kiritimati (includes Kanton)

(3 seats)

Kuria

(1 seat)

Maiana

(2 seats)

Makin

(2 seats)

Marakei

(2 seats)

Nikunau

(2 seats)

Nonouti

(2 seats)

North Tabiteuea

(2 seats)

Onotoa

(2 seats)

Rural Tarawa (North Tarawa)

(3 seats)

South Tabiteuea

(1 seat)

Tamana

(1 seat)

Tarawa Teinainano (South Tarawa)

(3 seats)

Washington (Teraina)

(1 seat)

Aftermath

On 22 August, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration announced that all scheduled diplomatic visits to the country were to be suspended or cancelled until 2025, citing concerns over their effect on the formation of a new government after the election and inability to accommodate visitors while the process was ongoing.

With the ruling Tobwaan Kiribati Party having won 33 of 45 seats, it was able to block the nomination of opposition candidates for president. The TKP nominated incumbent president Taneti Maamau, alongside others described as "dummy candidates." Maamau is expected to retain his position. Opposition leader Tessie Lambourne decried the move, saying "Kiribati is now a one-party state." The presidential election is scheduled for 25 October.

References

{{Kiribati elections

Kiribati
Parliamentary electrion
Parliamentary elections in Kiribati
Election and referendum articles with incomplete results