General elections were held in the Marshall Islands on 19 November 2007.

Campaign One of the election issues was whether to switch recognition from Taiwan to the China, with the opposition in favour of recognising China instead."Marshall Islands votes", ABC Radio Australia, 19 November 2007. However, Aelon Kein Ad stated on 28 November that they would not end ties with the ROC if they won the election."Marshall Islands election: likely to retain Taiwan ties" , Radio Taiwan International, 28 November 2007.

Conduct Due to delays in opening the polling stations (while they were meant to open at 7 AM, some did not open until midday and one did not open before 4 PM) polling continued until after midnight. While only 36,000 people were eligible to vote, the large number of postal ballots meant that results were not to be known before 4 December."Opposition declares win in Marshalls Election", Xinhua, 30 November 2007.

Results Early results with 40% of the vote counted indicated a number of government party members could lose their seats, meaning it was possible that the opposition has won the election. On 30 November, the opposition Aelon̄ Kein Ad declared victory, claiming it had already won 15 of the 17 seats necessary for a majority and that it expected to gain about 20 to 22 seats.

The final vote count began on 4 December 2007.Giff Johnson, , Pacific Magazine, 2 December 2007. The opposition officially voiced their protest when the election website had not been updated by 8 December since the preliminary results were published on 27 November, questioning the legality of the recounting of votes from the outer islands,"Marshalls Election Mess Gets Worse" , Pacific Magazine, 8 December 2007. allegedly an attempt to change the results in four very close seats. The opposition party also claimed to have the necessary 17 senators to govern."Marshall Islands Opposition question election count", ABC Radio Australia, 9 December 2007.

Final, unofficial results were released on 10 December; the candidates then had two weeks to file recount petitions and court challenges.Aenet Rowa, "Final, Unofficial Election Results Follow Controversial Recount" , Yokwe Online, 9 December 2007. As both the ruling United Democratic Party and the opposition Aelon Kein Ad claim to have the 17 MPs required to form a government, and since two seats were decided by a single vote and two others by five votes, many recount petitions are expected to be filed.

Figures from 12 December indicated that President Kassai Note's United Democratic Party had 14 seats while the opposition United People's Party (which forms part of the Aelon Kein Ad coalition), led by former speaker Litokwa Tomeing, had 15 seats. Aelon̄ Kein Ad continued to claim they had the 17 seats necessary to govern, and the election was considered likely be decided by the courts."Courts expected to decide Marshall Islands election", ABC Radio Australia, 12 December 2007.

Both parties attempted to get independent MPs to join them, with both sides about two or three seats short of a majority.Giff Johnson, "Marshalls gov’t plays Taiwan ‘card’; opposition calls for Note’s resignation", Marianas Variety, 17 December 2007.

Recounts for Maloelap and Likiep were ordered for 3 January 2008, and voters from the US have appealed for their votes to be counted as well despite some problems with the required post stamp.

By constituency Constituency Candidate Votes NotesAilinglaplap (2) Christopher Loeak 917 Elected Ruben Zackhras 568 Elected Francis Horiuchi 448 Gordon Note 440 Harney Atjang Paul 91 Ailuk (1) Maynard Alfred 311 Elected Hemos Jack 193 Hackney Takju 70 Arno (2) Gerald Zackios 543 Elected Nidel Lorak 539 Elected Mike Halferty 379 Jiba Kabua 302 Weiner Kattil 242 Juan Lokot 101 Ruman Jorbal 74 Aur (1) Norman Matthew 209 Elected Danny Jack 92 Ebon (1) John Silk 534 Elected Heran Bellu 349 Enewetak (1) Jack Ading 171 Elected Ishmael John 79 Jabat (1) Kessai Note 114 Elected Abo Loeak 42 Jaluit (2) Alvin Jacklick 721 Elected Rien Morris 613 Elected Hilda Heine 458 Fredrik Jitto de Brum 272 John Kunar Bungitak 111 Lenist Lanki 111 Kili/Bikini/Ejit (1) Tomaki Juda 441 Elected March Samuel 218 Kwajalein (3) Michael Kabua 883 Elected Tony de Brum 746 Elected Jeban Riklon 593 Elected Sato Maie 386 Ataji Balos 219 Steven Kori Dribo 197 Lae (1) Relang Lemari 177 Elected Charles de Brum 77 Rino Phillip 72 Jolbo Samuel 25 Lib (1) Jerakoj Bejang 263 Elected Irumne Bondrik 202 Likiep (1) Tom Kijiner 319 Elected Donald Capelle 314 Majuro (5) Jurelang Zedkaia 2,330 Elected Alik Alik 1,774 Elected David Kramer 1,668 Elected Brenson Wase 1,665 Elected Wilfred Kendall 1,506 Elected Phillip Muller 1,453 Amatlain Kabua 1,415 Witten Philippo 1,343 Jack Jorbon 668 Rosalie Konou 561 Biuma Samson 538 Jakeo Relang 461 Melvin Narruhn 450 Carl Heine 223 Edwin Lakien 119 Maloelap (1) Michael Konelios 381 Elected Patrick Langmoir 380 Emil de Brum 26 Mejit (1) Dennis Momotaro 567 Elected Helkena Anni 333 Luckner Abner 116 Mili (1) Kejjo Bien 373 Elected Tadashi Lometo 297 Homer Graham 157 Alee Alik 72 Billy Billy 20 Namdrik (1) Mattlan Zackhras 272 Elected Rod Nakamura 267 Namu (1) Kaiboke Kabua 200 Elected Tony Aiseia 199 Anna Anien 106 Rongelap (1) Kenneth Kedi 281 Elected Atbi Riklon 268 Abacca Anjain-Maddison 153 Ujae (1) Fredrick Muller 141 Elected Caios Lucky 45 Marcella Sakaio 21 William Swain 11 Utrok (1) Amenta Matthew 365 Elected Hiroshi V. Yamamura 336 Wotho (1) David Kabua 223 Elected Elmer Langbata 64 Namar N. Nashon 32 Wotje (1) Litokwa Tomeing — Elected unopposedSource: Psephos

Aftermath The newly elected Nitijela elected the president on 7 January 2008 after formally convening.. Litokwa Tomeing was elected by 18 votes to 15 for incumbent president Kessai Note. A new Speaker from the opposition, Senator Jurelang Zedkaia, was also elected, defeating Senator Alvin Jacklick in another 18–15 vote. Senator Alik Alik from the United Democratic Party (the former government party) was elected as Vice-Speaker with 17 votes against 16 for Kaibuke Kabua.Aenet Rowa, "Marshall Islands Has New President and Parliament Leaders" , Yokwe Online, January 6, 2008.

Tomeing had defected from the United Democratic Party to the opposition United People's Party before the election.

According to the results of the presidential and speaker elections, the opposition (consisting of Aelon̄ Kein Ad and the UPP) seemed to have either 18 or 17 seats, as opposed to the former government's 15 or 16 seats.Aenet Rowa, "Marshall Islands Has New President and Parliament Leaders" , Yokwe Online, 6 January 2008.

Vote of no confidence in Tomeing

On 21 October 2009 Tomeing was ousted from the presidency in the nation's first successful vote of no confidence. He was temporarily replaced by Ruben Zackhras as acting president until the Nitijela elected a new president on 26 October. Only two candidates were nominated; Zedkaia and former president Kessai Note, who had led the no confidence measure against Tomeing. Tomeing and Kessai had engaged in a power struggle since Kessai had lost his re-election bid in the 2007 elections. Under the terms of the Marshallese constitution, the Nitijela had fourteen days to elect a new president.

Speaker Jurelang Zedkaia was elected with 17 votes to Note's 15. The results gave Zedkaia the one vote-minimum needed to defeat Kessai and win the presidency. Senators did not vote along party lines during the election, with several crossing the aisle to vote for the presidential candidates in opposing parties. Nitijela Senator Brenson Wase was quoted as describing the shifting political affiliations of the electors as being as mixed up "as a fruit salad."

Observers noted that Zedkaia is an Iroij, or traditional chief, like his predecessor, Litokwe Tomeing. Zedkaia's status as Iroij may have been key to his narrow one-vote victory in the election.

Zedkaia was sworn into office on November 2, 2009.

References