June 2010 Nauruan parliamentary election

19 June 2010
All 18 seats in the Parliament of Nauru
First party Second party   Leader Marcus Stephen Baron Waqa Party Independent Independent Last election 9 seats 9 seats Seats won 9 8 Seat change 1
President before election Marcus Stephen Independent President-designate Marcus Stephen Independent

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Early parliamentary elections were held in Nauru on 19 June 2010 after the previous parliamentary election in April 2010 had resulted in a deadlock between government and opposition, tied at nine seats each.^[1] This led to an extended state of emergency in Nauru as a result of this election.^[2][3]

Background

The election occurred during a state of emergency imposed by President of Nauru Marcus Stephen.^[2][4] Voters were given just one week's notice for the date of the election.^[2]

Results

The result was no clear majority,^[2] meaning a hung parliament.^[5]

One MP belonging to the opposition, Dantes Tsitsi, failed to be re-elected, while all 17 others were re-elected.^[6][7] Independent MP Milton Dube holds the balance of power.^[2] The Nauru Parliament's two groups must compete for his support.^[8] Dube was elected in Aiwo constituency, unseating Dantes Tsitsi of the Opposition.^[8] The new MP declared himself independent, and stated he would support the side which would do the most for his constituency.^[8] He wants to reduce the levels of phosphate dust from a problematic drying plant.^[8] The MP in favour of government, Doctor Kieren Keke, planned to discuss the matter with Dube within a week of his election.^[2] Parliament have scheduled a sitting on the Tuesday morning following the election.^[9]

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.^[10][11]

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.^[12] 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)^[13] and Godfrey Thoma.^[14] Another attempt at electing a president was set for 6 July.^[15]

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.^[16] Amwano was then dismissed on 7 July by Stephen,^[17] but refused to quit.^[18] In a short parliamentary session held on 9 July, Deputy Speaker Landon Deireragea announced that he had assumed the Speaker's position.^[19]

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.^[20] The emergency was subsequently extended several times continued into October.^[21]

The deadlock was finally broken when former president Ludwig Scotty accepted the nomination to become speaker,^[22] and Stephen was elected over opposition MP Milton Dube in a secret vote with 11 to 6 votes on 1 November 2010.^[23]

References