Record Number Of Women Seek Palau Senate Seats
Seven women are running for the Palau Senate this year, a record number of female candidates for either chamber of the national Congress.
With 13 seats being contested,
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The female candidates -- none are incumbents -- face a tough battle in the November general election. Six incumbents are seeking reelection, and there are a total of 44 candidates for the 13 seats.
The large number of female candidates highlights the contrasts between political and customary power in
“Women are the caretakers of traditions and are responsible to instill proper values and virtues in our children” says Faustina Rehuher-Marugg highly regarded Director of the Belau National Museum. “They are also responsible to maintain traditional customs, farm the taro for food.”
However, Palauan elective politics has been the domain of men since the American democratic system was established after World War II.
The notable exception was the one-term that Sandra Sumang Pierantozzi served as vice president from 2001 to 2005. She lost to current Vice President Elias Camsek Chin in the last election in which the number two spot was contested independently from the presidential race.
Pierantozzi tried to make a political comeback. She was one of three women who unsuccessfully ran in a special election in 2007 to replace the late Johnny Reklai. That was the previous record for women running in a Palau Senate race.
The seven women who have filed nomination papers for the Senate are Joan Demei, Risong Tarkong, Dilmei Olkeriil, Regina Mesebeluu, Lorenza Olkeriil, Jennifer Sugiyama-Yano and Kathy Kesolei.
The female candidates run the gamut of backgrounds and professional work. Demei and Tarkong work in the executive branch of the national government. Mesebeluu is director of
Kesolei and Olkeriil are retired school principals and work in community development, while Yano is a private sector executive.
“In Palauan culture, there are also exceptional times when the matrilineal system may find a void of leadership or period when the responsibility of women may require them to take a more active role,” says Kesolei of her Senate quest. Kesolei also plays a prominent role in Palauan traditional life, too.
“To many women in
Rehuhr-Marugg, who is also running in her first election to the House of Delegates, added, “I have worked on a national level and chose to represent my village and state because I want to help assure a sustainable place for them into the future of
Women are beginning to do well at the state level. Three females now serve as governors, Leilani Reklai of
There are 44 candidates this year for the 16 House seats.
Besides facing the Senate incumbents, the female senatorial candidates also must contend with a number of well-known men who are seeking upper chamber seats. They include outgoing President Tommy Remengesau, who cannot run for a third term, and five government ministers, Elbuchel Sadang (Finance), Fritz Koshiba (Resources and Development), Otoichi Besebes (Commerce and Trade), and Mario Katosang (Education) and Temmy Shmull (State).
See also:
Power And Pride: Palauan Women Leaders Shape Their Country’s Future
http://www.pacificmagazine.net/issue/2001/06/01/power--pride
