2024 Kiribati parliamentary election explained

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.^[1]

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.^[2] The 45th member of the legislature is nominated by the Banaban community resident on Rabi Island in Fiji.^[3]

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.^[2] 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.^[4]

For the 2024 election, there are nearly 53,000 registered voters.^[5]

Issues

Among issues prominent during the election were inflation, rising sea levels, public spending, the national debt, and relations with China.^{[6] [7]} 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.^[8]

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.^[8]

Results

A total of 114 people ran in the election, of which 18 were women.^[9] 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.^[9] 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.^[10] 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.^[11] On 17 August the Office of the President published a full list of the results on its official Facebook page.^[12]

Second round

Voting commenced at 7:00am and continued until 6:00pm.^[13] 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, who had represented Arorae since 1998. The Speaker of the outgoing Parliament, Tangariki Reete, 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.^[14]

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.^[15] 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.^[16] 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.^[17] 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.^[18]

Sources: Office of the President^[12] and Ministry of Culture and Internal Affairs^[14]

(3 seats)

Candidate	First round		Second round		Notes
	Votes	%	Votes	%
Lavinia Teatao Teem†	1,445	52.83	colspan=2	Elected
Teuea Toatu	1,343	49.10	1,290	48.85	Elected
Betero Atanibora	1,012	37.00	1,150	43.54	Elected
Kautu Tenaua	1,080	39.49	1,060	40.14
	635	23.22	613	23.21
	100	3.66	colspan=2
Valid ballots	2,733	99.93	2,629	99.55
Invalid/blank ballots	2	0.07	12	0.45
Total ballots cast	2,735	100.00	2,641	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	3,155	86.69	3,155	83.71

Abemama

(2 seats)

Candidate	Votes	%	Notes
	1,068	56.42	Elected
Tessie Eria Lambourne †	961	50.77	Elected
Willie Tokataake	875	46.22
Valid ballots	1,891	99.89
Invalid/blank ballots	2	0.11
Total ballots cast	1,893	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	2,068	91.54

(1 seat)

Candidate	Votes	%	Notes
Martin Moreti	406	60.87	Elected
	192	28.79
	68	10.19
Valid ballots	666	99.85
Invalid/blank ballots	1	0.15
Total ballots cast	667	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	729	91.50

(1 seat)

Candidate	First round		Second round		Notes
	Votes	%	Votes	%
	188	38.29	254	51.42	Elected
	195	39.71	223	45.14
Teima Onorio †	107	21.79	17	3.44
Valid ballots	490	99.80	494	100.00
Invalid/blank ballots	1	0.20	0	0.00
Total ballots cast	491	100.00	494	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	522	94.06	522	94.64

(1 seat)

Candidate	Votes	%	Notes
Tibanga Taratai	143	70.44	Elected
Pelenise Alofa Maike Pilitati†	60	29.56
Valid ballots	203	100.00
Invalid/blank ballots	0	0.00
Total ballots cast	203	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	219	92.69

(2 seats)

Candidate	Votes	%	Notes
England Thomas Iuta	641	55.31	Elected
	603	52.03	Elected
Bwatoromaio Kiritian	393	33.91
	350	30.20
Valid ballots	1,159	100.00
Invalid/blank ballots	0	0.00
Total ballots cast	1,159	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	1,190	97.39

(3 seats)

Candidate	First round		Second round		Notes
	Votes	%	Votes	%
Tangariki Reete†	3,203	48.65	2,780	42.84	Elected
	2,300	34.93	2,641	40.69	Elected
Tinte Itinteang	2,276	34.57	2,602	40.09	Elected
Kataaua Benjamin†	2,526	38.37	2,509	38.66
Tebao Awerika	1,774	26.94	1,848	28.47
Botika Maitinnara†	1,546	23.48	colspan=2
	262	3.98	colspan=2
Valid ballots	6,580	99.94	6,487	99.95
Invalid/blank ballots	4	0.06	3	0.05
Total ballots cast	6,584	100.00	6,490	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	7,808	84.32	7,808	83.12

Butaritari

(2 seats)

Candidate	Notes
Alexander Teabo*	Elected unopposed
Tinian Reiher*	Elected unopposed

Fanning (Tabuaeran)

(2 seats)

Candidate	First round		Second round		Notes
	Votes	%	Votes	%
	665	63.09	colspan=2	Elected
	491	46.58	693	66.25	Elected
	150	14.23	190	18.16
Rubeiti Eria†	290	27.51	161	15.39
	109	10.34	colspan=2
Tewaaki Kobae	101	9.58	colspan=2
	50	4.74	colspan=2
Valid ballots	1,054	100.00	1,044	99.81
Invalid/blank ballots	0	0.00	2	0.19
Total ballots cast	1,054	100.00	1,046	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	1,099	95.91	1,099	95.18

Kiritimati (includes Kanton)

(3 seats)

Candidate	First round		Second round		Notes
	Votes	%	Votes	%
Mikarite Temari	2,157	60.79	colspan=2	Elected
	1,738	48.99	1,843	54.54	Elected
Jacob Teem	1,640	46.22	1,594	47.17	Elected
Bakaia Kiabo	958	27.00	1151	34.06
	361	10.17	788	23.32
	236	6.65	colspan=2
	204	5.75	colspan=2
	154	4.34	colspan=2
Valid ballots	3,544	99.89	3,354	99.26
Invalid/blank ballots	4	0.11	25	0.74
Total ballots cast	3,548	100.00	3,379	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	3,835	92.52	3,835	88.11

(1 seat)

Candidate	First round		Second round		Notes
	Votes	%	Votes	%
Banuera Berina	283	44.15	325	50.47	Elected
	260	40.56	314	48.76
	93	14.51	0	0.00	Withdrew
Valid ballots	636	99.22	639	99.22
Invalid/blank ballots	5	0.78	5	0.78
Total ballots cast	641	100.00	644	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	678	94.54	678	94.99

(2 seats)

Candidate	Votes	%	Notes
Ruta Teretia Babo†	663	56.28	Elected
Koraubati Remuera	595	50.51	Elected
	456	38.71
Vincent Tong	323	27.42
Valid ballots	1,178	100.00
Invalid/blank ballots	0	0.00
Total ballots cast	1,178	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	1,251	94.16

(2 seats)

Candidate	Votes	%	Notes
Pinto Katia	632	63.52	Elected
	626	62.91	Elected
James Taom	316	31.76
	90	9.05
	69	6.93
Valid ballots	994	99.90
Invalid/blank ballots	1	0.10
Total ballots cast	995	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	1,098	90.62

(2 seats)

Candidate	First round		Second round		Notes
	Votes	%	Votes	%
Ruateki Tekaiara	824	59.80	colspan=2	Elected
Moannata Ientaake	679	49.27	773	56.59	Elected
	424	30.77	386	28.26
	261	18.94	204	14.93
	104	7.55	colspan=2
Valid ballots	1,378	100.00	1,363	99.78
Invalid/blank ballots	0	0.00	3	0.22
Total ballots cast	1,378	100.00	1,366	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	1,512	91.14	1,512	90.34

(2 seats)

Candidate	Votes	%	Notes
Ribanataake Tiwau	821	75.11	Elected
Tauanei Marea	623	57.00	Elected
	399	36.51
	143	13.08
Valid ballots	1,092	99.91
Invalid/blank ballots	1	0.09
Total ballots cast	1,093	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	1,128	96.90

(2 seats)

Candidate	First round		Second round		Notes
	Votes	%	Votes	%
	782	56.02	colspan=2	Elected
Ieremia Tabai	592	42.41	570	43.02	Elected
	471	33.74	493	37.21
	243	17.41	255	19.25
Miriah Waysang Kum Kee†	194	13.90	colspan=2
Valid ballots	1,396	100.00	1,318	99.47
Invalid/blank ballots	0	0.00	7	0.53
Total ballots cast	1,396	100.00	1,325	100
Registered voters/turnout	1,482	94.20	1,482	89.41

(2 seats)

Candidate	First round		Second round		Notes
	Votes	%	Votes	%
Taberannang Timeon	1,084	59.17	colspan=2	Elected
Tarakabu Martin Tofinga	814	44.43	958	52.44	Elected
Ruria Iteraera†	500	27.29	762	41.71
	321	17.52	103	5.64
Taoing Teaiwa Taoaba†	73	3.98	colspan=2
	25	1.36	colspan=2
Valid ballots	1,824	99.56	1,824	99.78
Invalid/blank ballots	8	0.44	3	0.22
Total ballots cast	1,832	100.00	1,827	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	1,992	91.97	1,992	91.72

Onotoa

(2 seats)

Candidate	First round		Second round		Notes
	Votes	%	Votes	%
Taneti Maamau	688	82.79	colspan=2	Elected
	313	37.67	367	44.11	Elected
Taiaki Irata	281	33.81	360	43.27
	146	17.57	101	12.14
	75	9.03	colspan=2
Valid ballots	829	99.76	828	99.52
Invalid/blank ballots	2	0.24	4	0.48
Total ballots cast	831	100.00	832	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	877	94.75	877	94.41

Rural Tarawa (North Tarawa)

(3 seats)

Candidate	First round		Second round		Notes
	Votes	%	Votes	%
Harry Tekaiti	1,826	50.33	colspan=2	Elected
Terieta Mwemwenikeaki	1,612	44.43	1,843	51.02	Elected
	1,757	48.43	1,820	50.39	Elected
Boutu Bateriki	1,243	34.26	1,405	38.90
	425	11.71	147	4.07
Valid ballots	3,621	99.81	3,578	99.04
Invalid/blank ballots	7	0.19	34	0.96
Total ballots cast	3,628	100.00	3,612	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	4,155	87.32	4,155	86.93

(1 seat)

Tamana

(1 seat)

Tarawa Teinainano (South Tarawa)

(3 seats)

Candidate	First round		Second round		Notes
	Votes	%	Votes	%
	3,211	25.48	5,670	46.97	Elected
Tebuai Uaai	3,689	29.27	4,709	39.01	Elected
Ruth Maryanne Cross Kwansing†	3,410	27.06	4,667	38.66	Elected
Taabeta Amuera Teakai †	3,227	25.61	4,587	38.00
Taoaba Kaiea	2,816	22.35	3,817	31.62
	2,626	20.84	colspan=2
Ngaina Roniti Teiwaki†	1,104	8.76	colspan=2
	1,019	8.09	colspan=2
	982	7.79	colspan=2
Akineti Moataake†	918	7.28	colspan=2
	566	4.49	colspan=2
	546	4.33	colspan=2
	546	4.33	colspan=2
	507	4.02	colspan=2
	349	2.77	colspan=2
	311	2.47	colspan=2
	204	1.62	colspan=2
	197	1.56	colspan=2
	161	1.28	colspan=2
Erimeta Barako†	149	1.18	colspan=2
Ramanibina Titau†	110	0.87	colspan=2
	109	0.86	colspan=2
Valid ballots	12,591	99.91	12,069	99.98
Invalid/blank ballots	11	0.09	3	0.02
Total ballots cast	12,602	100.00	12,072	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	15,661	80.47	15,661	77.08

Washington (Teraina)

(1 seat)

Candidate	Votes	%	Notes
	536	63.06	Elected
	160	18.82
Nantongo Timeon	149	17.53
Valid ballots	752	88.47
Invalid/blank ballots	98	11.53
Total ballots cast	850	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	903	94.13

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.^[19]

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.^[20] Opposition leader Tessie Lambourne decried the move, saying "Kiribati is now a one-party state."^[21] The presidential election is scheduled for 25 October.^[22]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Kiribati election: Voters head to second round of polling to determine who forms government . . 19 August 2024 . 19 August 2024 . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240819001330/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/525520/kiribati-election-voters-head-to-second-round-of-polling-to-determine-who-forms-government . live .
2. Web site: Kiribati . Pacific Women in Politics . 6 May 2024 . 6 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240506144529/https://www.pacwip.org/country-profiles/Kiribati/ . live .
3. Web site: Anthony . Kelvin . 14 August 2024 . Kiribati polls open: 'Hype is not as it is in other countries' . 14 August 2024 . . 13 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240813215009/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/525106/kiribati-polls-open-hype-is-not-as-it-is-in-other-countries . live .
4. Web site: Kiribati . Election Passport . 6 May 2024 . 2 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160802000541/http://www.electionpassport.com/electoral-systems/kiribati/ . live .
5. Web site: 17 August 2024 . Preliminary election results show tight race for urban seats in Kiribati . 18 August 2024 . . 18 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240818153423/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/525392/preliminary-election-results-show-tight-race-for-urban-seats-in-kiribati . live .
6. Web site: 14 August 2024 . Kiribati's pro-China government faces test as election begins . 14 August 2024 . . 23 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240823050824/https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/14/kiribati-election-2024-poll-voting . live .
7. Web site: Wiseman . Don . 14 August 2024 . Kiribati elections 2024 - what we know . 14 August 2024 . . 13 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240813125606/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/525031/kiribati-elections-2024-what-we-know . live .
8. Web site: Mccready . Alastair . Kiribati votes in key election after years of turbulence . . 14 August 2024 . en . 14 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240814115250/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/8/14/kiribati-votes-in-key-election-after-years-of-turbulence . live .
9. Web site: Wiseman . Don . 2024-07-31 . 114 candidates to contest Kiribati election, including 18 women . 2024-08-13 . . en-nz . 3 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240803070707/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/523739/114-candidates-to-contest-kiribati-election-including-18-women . live .
10. Web site: 2024-08-15 . Kiribati elections unofficial results: 'It is all community level effort where we ask each other' . 2024-08-15 . . en-nz . 15 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240815090527/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/525273/kiribati-elections-unofficial-results-it-is-all-community-level-effort-where-we-ask-each-other . live .
11. Web site: 2024-08-15 . General Election Results . 2024-08-15 . Ministry of Culture and Internal Affairs . en-ki . 15 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240815104642/https://internalaffairs.gov.ki/general-election-results/ . live .
12. Web site: 2024-08-17 . Untitled . 2024-08-17 . Facebook . en-ki . 17 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817111503/https://www.facebook.com/ob.gov.ki/posts/pfbid0ijHe1QSma4u8v46z8ZN7Wz19RTwiJ9WqthCHdMyusCmCoADzS2aRonGQHDrdNgAbl . live .
13. Web site: 2024-08-19 . Kiribati election: Voters head to second round of polling to determine who forms government . 2024-08-19 . . en-nz . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240819004040/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/525520/kiribati-election-voters-head-to-second-round-of-polling-to-determine-who-forms-government . live .
14. Web site: 2024-08-20 . NATIONAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS 2024 . 2024-08-20 . Facebook . en-ki . 20 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240820042359/https://www.facebook.com/mcia.gov.ki/posts/pfbid037wjtK3sVCwZrZBgfyC2GEWAmZCFykueuAY6SLvz91br7N2bQj2oHo7RM4Uooh82Ll . live .
15. Web site: 2020-05-27 . Kiribati speaker says election loss a 'blessing in disguise' . 2024-08-21 . . en-nz . 26 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231226215725/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/417683/kiribati-speaker-says-election-loss-a-blessing-in-disguise . live .
16. Web site: Wiseman . Don . Anthony . Kelvin . 2024-08-21 . Kiribati elections results: a record 5 women elected into 45-seat parliament . 2024-08-21 . . en-nz . 21 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240821032004/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/525716/kiribati-elections-results-a-record-5-women-elected-into-45-seat-parliament . live .
17. Web site: 2024-08-13 . Notice for 1st sitting of the 13th Maneaba ni Maungatabu . 2024-08-20 . Facebook . en-ki . 20 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240820052834/https://www.facebook.com/maneaba/posts/pfbid0yPVBQEVqa648zpkVf8YNnjKxmUHYbzMGXi3iHxJHNcdTtGWcAnARW9fNcBNfv5P3l . live .
18. Web site: Elections Act 2019 (Schedule 1) . PacLII . Pacific Islands Legal Information Institute . 26 August 2024.
19. Web site: 2024-08-23 . Kiribati's pro-China government bars foreign officials from visiting until 2025, citing elections . 2024-08-23 . . en-US.
20. Web site: Wiseman . Don . Taneti Maamau in pole position to be president again as Kiribati's lawmakers choose speaker . RNZ Pacific . . 30 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240929094857/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/527938/taneti-maamau-in-pole-position-to-be-president-again-as-kiribati-s-lawmakers-choose-speaker . 29 September 2024 . 14 September 2024.
21. Web site: Wiseman . Don . Tessie Lambourne claims Kiribati 'now a one-party state', takes aim at Taneti Maamau's leadership . RNZ Pacific . . 30 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240929095158/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/528864/tessie-lambourne-claims-kiribati-now-a-one-party-state-takes-aim-at-taneti-maamau-s-leadership . 29 September 2024 . 24 September 2024.
22. Web site: Don . Wiseman . Kiribati to vote for president on 25 October . RNZ Pacific . . 30 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240930011856/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/529353/kiribati-to-vote-for-president-on-25-october . 30 September 2024 . 29 September 2024.