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Nauru President Orders Fresh Elections

By Pacific Magazine
Friday: April 18, 2008

The President of Nauru, Marcus Stephen has declared a state of emergency in order to dissolve parliament and call a general election, to be held on 26th of this month. 

Nauru’s parliament has been deadlocked for weeks after the opposition led by former foreign minister David Adeang, attempted to remove President Stephen in a vote of no confidence. That was unsuccessful but in the subsequent maneuvering, Adeang was voted in as Speaker of the house.

He tried to have two government members ruled ineligible to sit in the house on the grounds that they held duel citizenship. That too was thrown out by Nauru’s courts. But the deadlock has remained.

President Stephen said the actions of the Speaker and his supporters over the past month had seriously compromised the parliamentary process to such an extent that their irresponsible behavior was now threatening a number of investment projects and delaying important budget appropriation bills.

“They are showing no signs of allowing us to get on with the business of governing for the good of our people,” Stephen says.

“I believe the voters of Nauru will voice their disgust at the opposition’s attempt to hold our democratic institutions to ransom.”

The President says the relatively short lead up to the election was necessary to return political stability to the country as soon as possible, to allow the passage of essential budgetary bills to pass through parliament and restore investment confidence.

“The only positive thing to come out of this saga is the fact the people of Nauru have been able to witness first hand, the uncaring and selfish attitude which underlines the dubious objectives and game plan of the Speaker and his alliance with the very people who were his sworn enemies not so long ago.

 “The people can express their feelings in the most democratic way possible; through the ballot box, President Stephen said.