Parliament of Nauru

Parliament of Nauru
25th Parliament of Nauru
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Marcus Stephen, Non-partisan
since 27 August 2019
Deputy Speaker
Isabella Dageago, Non-partisan
since 14 October 2025
Structure
Seats19
Political groups
Parliament
  Non-partisan (19)
Length of term
3 years
Elections
Dowdall system
Last election
11 October 2025
Next election
2028
Meeting place
Parliament Building, Yaren
Website
naurugov.nr/parliament-of-nauru
Footnotes
* all candidates for Parliament officially stand as independents.

The Parliament of Nauru has 19 members, elected for a three-year term in multi-seat constituencies. The president of Nauru is elected by the members of the Parliament.[1] The number of seats was increased to 19 following elections in 2013.[2]

The members of the Parliament of Nauru are elected by a positional voting system.[1]

History

The Parliament of Nauru came into existence with the country's independence on 31 January 1968. The island was previously a United Nations Trust Territory administered by Australia. The Australian government's Nauru Act 1965 created the Legislative Council for the Territory of Nauru, consisting of 15 members – nine elected members, one ex officio member (the administrator of Nauru), and five "official members" nominated by the administrator.[3]

On 22 March 2010, Radio New Zealand International reported that President Marcus Stephen had dissolved Parliament in readiness for elections on 24 April 2010. The election saw all 18 MPs returned,[4] but by this stage, nine of them had formed the Opposition, resulting in a deadlocked Parliament. Another election was held in June 2010, as a result of the continuing deadlock. After weeks of uncertainty, the deadlock was resolved when the Opposition agreed to have one of its own MPs, Ludwig Scotty, elected as speaker. President Stephen then suggested that the number of MPs should be expanded to 19, to prevent future deadlocks.[5] In late 2012, Parliament, under the leadership of President Dabwido, acted on this suggestion and passed a law increasing the number of seats to 19 after election in 2013, it is expected to prevent future deadlocks like the one in 2010.[2]

Current MPs

Constituency Member Position Points #1 Votes
Aiwo Rennier Gadabu Deputy Minister[6] 458.775
243 / 874
Delvin Thoma Minister[7] 468.759
326 / 874
Anabar Maverick Eoe 499.393
402 / 723
Pyon Deiye 340.486
209 / 723
Anetan Timothy Ika 568.517
394 / 821
Marcus Stephen Speaker[8] 473.433
262 / 821
Boe Asterio Appi Minister[7] 589.000
419 / 910
Wanganeen Emiu 412.450
176 / 910
Buada Shadlog Bernicke Minister[7] 318.950
219 / 488
Bingham Agir 215.767
112 / 488
Meneng Lionel Aingimea Minister[7] 839.528
506 / 1,638
Jesse Jeremiah Minister[7] 731.896
358 / 1,638
Lyn-Wannan Kam Deputy Minister[9] 567.187
236 / 1,638
Ubenide David Adeang President[7] 837.298
450 / 1,707
Russ Kun Deputy Minister[10] 620.795
295 / 1,707
Reagan Aliklik Minister[7] 668.881
330 / 1,707
Ranin Akua Deputy Minister[11] 454.962
130 / 1,707
Yaren Charmaine Scotty Minister[7] 627.412
401 / 1,071
Isabella Dageago Deputy Minister[12] 498.905
320 / 1,071
Source: Nauru Electoral Commission

Speaker

The Speaker is the presiding officer of Parliament. The Speaker is an MP elected by the MPs. The Speaker has no vote in no-confidence votes and presidential elections.

Following the April 2008 election, Riddell Akua was appointed Speaker of the Parliament of Nauru. He replaced David Adeang.[13]

Two weeks after the April 2010 election, Godfrey Thoma was elected Speaker.[5] Due to the political deadlock, fresh elections were held in June, after which Parliament continued to be deadlocked until the election of Ludwig Scotty to the chair in November 2010. Scotty resigned at the end of the 20th Parliament in March 2013. Godfrey Thoma was elected to replace him. Following the 2013 election, Scotty was re-elected to the speaker's post.

References

  1. ^ a b "About Parliament", Parliament of Nauru Archived 20 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b "Nauru country brief" Archived 6 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 10 November 2012
  3. ^ "Nauru Act 1965". Federal Register of Legislation. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Nauru election returns previous parliament unchanged". Radio New Zealand International. 26 April 2010. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Political standoff ends with speaker's election in Nauru", ABC Radio Australia, 13 May 2010
  6. ^ "Hon. Rennier Stanislaus Gadabu, M.P." Republic of Nauru. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h "David Adeang appoints Cabinet to lead Nauru for the next three years". Radio New Zealand. 20 October 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  8. ^ "Nauru's David Adeang re-elected as president unopposed". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 13 October 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  9. ^ "Hon. Tawaki Kam, M.P". Republic of Nauru. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  10. ^ "Hon. Russ Joseph Kun, M.P". Republic of Nauru. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  11. ^ "Hon. Ranin Randolph Akua, M.P". Republic of Nauru. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  12. ^ "Hon. Isabella Helen Dageago, M.P". Republic of Nauru. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  13. ^ "Nauru president moves to ensure political stability" Archived 22 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine, ABC Radio Australia, 1 May 2008

Sources

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2013-06-11/baron-waqa-named-as-new-nauru-president/1144022
http://www.naurugov.nr/government-information-office/media-release/honbaron-waqa-elected-president.aspx[dead link]

0°32′50″S 166°55′00″E / 0.54722°S 166.91667°E / -0.54722; 166.91667