Early parliamentary elections were held in Nauru on 2010 after the previous parliamentary election in April 2010 had resulted in a deadlock between government and opposition, tied at nine seats each. This led to an extended state of emergency in Nauru as a result of this election.
Background The election occurred during a state of emergency imposed by President of Nauru Marcus Stephen. Voters were given just one week's notice for the date of the election.
Results The result was no clear majority, meaning a hung parliament.
One MP belonging to the opposition, Dantes Tsitsi, failed to be re-elected, while all 17 others were re-elected. Independent MP Milton Dube holds the balance of power. The Nauru Parliament's two groups must compete for his support. Dube was elected in Aiwo constituency, unseating Dantes Tsitsi of the Opposition. The new MP declared himself independent, and stated he would support the side which would do the most for his constituency. He wants to reduce the levels of phosphate dust from a problematic drying plant. The MP in favour of government, Doctor Kieren Keke, planned to discuss the matter with Dube within a week of his election. Parliament have scheduled a sitting on the Tuesday morning following the election.
By constituency ConstituencyCandidateVotesNotesAiwoMilton Dube305.183ElectedGodfrey Thoma299.083Re-electedDantes Tsitsi295.650UnseatedAaron Cook269.450Preston Jovani Thoma250.867Invalid/blank votes3Total votes cast625AnabarRiddell Akua283.326Re-electedLudwig Scotty261.206 Re-electedTyrone Deiye245.530Jeb Nobob Bop138.237 David Peter Gadaraoa130.708 Melissa Neirina Ika130.413 Vincent Scotty129.906 Espen Jubal Fritz110.267 Invalid/blank votes15Total votes cast541AnetanMarcus Stephen349.617Re-electedLandon Deireragea335.433Re-elected Cyril Buraman 317.717 Cheyenne Timothy Ika184.833 Begg Bagadouwe Adire183.217 Creiden Fritz172.683 Invalid/blank votes9Total votes cast639BoeMathew Batsiua281.900Re-electedBaron Waqa277.417Re-elected Vollmer Mercury Appi 218.50 Abraham Aremwa 214.533 Joy Edith Heine 188.483 Invalid/blank votes3Total votes cast520BuadaShadlog Bernicke252.767Re-electedRoland Kun232.317Re-elected Alexander Stephen 175.300 Vinson Franco Detenamo 156.850 Monte Depaune 155.050 Johan Scotty 149.817 Invalid/blank votes3Total votes cast461MenengRykers Solomon394.445Re-electedSprent Dabwido368.577Re-elected Lyn-Wannan Kam 335.759 Doneke Jim Benedict Kepae 197.069 Alvin Harris 192.717 Elvin Squire Brechtefeld 191.166 Darius Rock 177.362 Roxen Debagabene Agadio 168.341 Darkey Jeremiah 168.031 Simpson Simon 167.282 Invalid/blank votes21Total votes cast827UbenideDavid Adeang422.974 Re-electedFrederick Pitcher414.240 Re-electedAloysius Amwano393.787 Re-electedValdon Dowiyogo357.014 Re-elected Ranin Akua 313.724 Julian Itsimaera 283.724 George Giovanni Gioura 255.857 Vyko Pentax Adeang 240.325 Fabian Ribauw 228.040 Maria Gaiyabu 202.255 Greta Diva Harris 192.848 Renos Renige Agege 184.514 David Corey Dowiyogo 181.250 Skipper Diovanni Hiram 174.567 Darnard Dongobir 166.621 Invalid/blank votes50Total votes cast1,259YarenDominic Tabuna254.667 Re-electedKieren Keke232.167 Re-elected Charmaine Scotty 206.483 John Daigon Julius 125.517 Brian Amwano 121.900 Invalid/blank votes3Total votes cast415Source: Republic of Nauru Government Gazette
Presidential election Following parliamentary elections, newly elected MPs elect a president from amongst their number. After the April parliamentary elections, the presidential election was attempted to be held on 3 June and 4 June 2010, but failed both times.
Following the new parliamentary elections on 19 June, Aloysius Amwano was elected as speaker on 30 June, but demanded that Stephen stand down as president. Stephen's followers agreed to this, but only if the new president came from their ranks, with their preferred nominee being Kieren Keke. However, there are two other contenders, Baron Waqa (the opposition leader) and Godfrey Thoma. Another attempt at electing a president was set for 6 July.
Although Rykers Solomon, an opposition MP, joined the government on 6 July, but Amwano nonetheless refused to allow a motion to elect the president, suspending parliament until 8 July. Amwano was then dismissed on 7 July by Stephen, but refused to quit. In a short parliamentary session held on 9 July, Deputy Speaker Landon Deireragea announced that he had assumed the Speaker's position.
By 30 July 2010 parliament had still had not sat since the sacking of Amwano and Stephen extended the state of emergency by 21 days. The emergency was subsequently extended several times continued into October.
The deadlock was finally broken when former president Ludwig Scotty accepted the nomination to become speaker, and Stephen was elected over opposition MP Milton Dube in a secret vote with 11 to 6 votes on 1 November 2010.
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