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2007 Marshallese general election

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2007 Marshallese general election
← 2003
19 November 2007
2011 →
All 33 seats in the Nitijeļā
17 seats needed for a majority
Turnout50.07%
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader David Kabua Kassai Note
Party Aelon̄ Kein Ad UDP
Seats won 18 15

General elections were held in the Marshall Islands on 19 November 2007.[1]

Campaign

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One of the election issues was whether to switch recognition from Taiwan to the China, with the opposition in favour of recognising China instead.[2] However, Aelon Kein Ad stated on 28 November that they would not end ties with the ROC if they won the election.[3]

Conduct

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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.[4] 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.[5]

Results

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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.[1] 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.[5]

The final vote count began on 4 December 2007.[6] 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,[7] allegedly an attempt to change the results in four very close seats.[8] The opposition party also claimed to have the necessary 17 senators to govern.[9]

Final, unofficial results were released on 10 December; the candidates then had two weeks to file recount petitions and court challenges.[10] 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.[11]

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.[12]

Both parties attempted to get independent MPs to join them, with both sides about two or three seats short of a majority.[13][14]

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.[15]

PartyVotes%Seats
Aelon̄ Kein Ad18
United Democratic Party15
Total33
Total votes18,093–
Registered voters/turnout36,13450.07
Source: IPU

By constituency

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ConstituencyCandidateVotesNotes
Ailinglaplap (2)Christopher Loeak917Elected
Ruben Zackhras568Elected
Francis Horiuchi448
Gordon Note440
Harney Atjang Paul91
Ailuk (1)Maynard Alfred311Elected
Hemos Jack193
Hackney Takju70
Arno (2)Gerald Zackios543Elected
Nidel Lorak539Elected
Mike Halferty379
Jiba Kabua302
Weiner Kattil242
Juan Lokot101
Ruman Jorbal74
Aur (1)Norman Matthew209Elected
Danny Jack92
Ebon (1)John Silk534Elected
Heran Bellu349
Enewetak (1)Jack Ading171Elected
Ishmael John79
Jabat (1)Kessai Note114Elected
Abo Loeak42
Jaluit (2)Alvin Jacklick721Elected
Rien Morris613Elected
Hilda Heine458
Fredrik Jitto de Brum272
John Kunar Bungitak111
Lenist Lanki111
Kili/Bikini/Ejit (1)Tomaki Juda441Elected
March Samuel218
Kwajalein (3)Michael Kabua883Elected
Tony de Brum746Elected
Jeban Riklon593Elected
Sato Maie386
Ataji Balos219
Steven Kori Dribo197
Lae (1)Relang Lemari177Elected
Charles de Brum77
Rino Phillip72
Jolbo Samuel25
Lib (1)Jerakoj Bejang263Elected
Irumne Bondrik202
Likiep (1)Tom Kijiner319Elected
Donald Capelle314
Majuro (5)Jurelang Zedkaia2,330Elected
Alik Alik1,774Elected
David Kramer1,668Elected
Brenson Wase1,665Elected
Wilfred Kendall1,506Elected
Phillip Muller1,453
Amatlain Kabua1,415
Witten Philippo1,343
Jack Jorbon668
Rosalie Konou561
Biuma Samson538
Jakeo Relang461
Melvin Narruhn450
Carl Heine223
Edwin Lakien119
Maloelap (1)Michael Konelios381Elected
Patrick Langmoir380
Emil de Brum26
Mejit (1)Dennis Momotaro567Elected
Helkena Anni333
Luckner Abner116
Mili (1)Kejjo Bien373Elected
Tadashi Lometo297
Homer Graham157
Alee Alik72
Billy Billy20
Namdrik (1)Mattlan Zackhras272Elected
Rod Nakamura267
Namu (1)Kaiboke Kabua200Elected
Tony Aiseia199
Anna Anien106
Rongelap (1)Kenneth Kedi281Elected
Atbi Riklon268
Abacca Anjain-Maddison153
Ujae (1)Fredrick Muller141Elected
Caios Lucky45
Marcella Sakaio21
William Swain11
Utrok (1)Amenta Matthew365Elected
Hiroshi V. Yamamura336
Wotho (1)David Kabua223Elected
Elmer Langbata64
Namar N. Nashon32
Wotje (1)Litokwa Tomeing—Elected unopposed
Source: Psephos

Aftermath

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The newly elected Nitijela elected the president on 7 January 2008 after formally convening.[16] 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.[17]

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.[18]

Vote of no confidence in Tomeing

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Zedkaia's swearing in as President on November 2, 2009

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,[19] 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.[20] Under the terms of the Marshallese constitution, the Nitijela had fourteen days to elect a new president.[21]

Speaker Jurelang Zedkaia was elected with 17 votes to Note's 15.[19] The results gave Zedkaia the one vote-minimum needed to defeat Kessai and win the presidency.[19] Senators did not vote along party lines during the election, with several crossing the aisle to vote for the presidential candidates in opposing parties.[19] Nitijela Senator Brenson Wase was quoted as describing the shifting political affiliations of the electors as being as mixed up "as a fruit salad."[20]

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.[22]

Zedkaia was sworn into office on November 2, 2009.

References

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  1. 1 2 "Early election results from Marshall Islands indicate a possible change of government". Radio New Zealand International. 22 November 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  2. ↑ "Marshall Islands votes", ABC Radio Australia, 19 November 2007.
  3. ↑ "Marshall Islands election: likely to retain Taiwan ties" Archived 2011-07-17 at the Wayback Machine, Radio Taiwan International, 28 November 2007.
  4. ↑ "Chaos during Marshall Islands elections". Radio New Zealand International. 19 November 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  5. 1 2 "Opposition declares win in Marshalls Election", Xinhua, 30 November 2007.
  6. ↑ Giff Johnson, "Final Domestic Vote Count Still Not Available"[link removed], Pacific Magazine, 2 December 2007.
  7. ↑ "Marshalls Election Mess Gets Worse" Archived 2008-07-05 at the Wayback Machine, Pacific Magazine, 8 December 2007.
  8. ↑ "Opposition in Marshall Islands claims vote counting illegal". Radio New Zealand International. 9 December 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  9. ↑ "Marshall Islands Opposition question election count", ABC Radio Australia, 9 December 2007.
  10. ↑ Aenet Rowa, "Final, Unofficial Election Results Follow Controversial Recount" Archived 2011-05-22 at the Wayback Machine, Yokwe Online, 9 December 2007.
  11. ↑ "No clear winner in Marshall Islands national parliamentary election". Radio New Zealand International. 10 December 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  12. ↑ "Courts expected to decide Marshall Islands election", ABC Radio Australia, 12 December 2007.
  13. ↑ "Taiwan link a key issue as Marshalls power tussle continues". Radio New Zealand International. 17 December 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  14. ↑ Giff Johnson, "Marshalls gov’t plays Taiwan ‘card’; opposition calls for Note’s resignation", Marianas Variety, 17 December 2007.
  15. ↑ "Election controversy continues to dog Marshalls Islands". Radio New Zealand International. 28 December 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  16. ↑ Angus Reid page on the Marshall Islands.
  17. ↑ Aenet Rowa, "Marshall Islands Has New President and Parliament Leaders" Archived 2011-05-22 at the Wayback Machine, Yokwe Online, January 6, 2008.
  18. ↑ Aenet Rowa, "Marshall Islands Has New President and Parliament Leaders" Archived 2011-05-22 at the Wayback Machine, Yokwe Online, 6 January 2008.
  19. 1 2 3 4 "Marshall Island parliament elects new President". Radio New Zealand International. 2009-10-26. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
  20. 1 2 "Marshalls elect new president in narrow vote". AFP. 2009-10-26. Retrieved 2009-10-27.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  21. ↑ Rowa, Aenet (2009-10-25). "Republic of the Marshall Islands has New President". Yokwe Online. Archived from the original on 2010-12-03. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
  22. ↑ "The Marshall Islands parliament has elected the Speaker, Jurelang Zedkaia, as its fifth President". RNZI. Islands Business. 2009-10-26. Archived from the original on 2012-02-23. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
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