2012 Kiribati presidential election

Presidential elections were held in Kiribati on 13 January 2012,[1] following two-round parliamentary elections held in October 2011. Incumbent President Anote Tong sought re-election to a third four-year term, ending months of speculation about his decision.[2][3]

2012 Kiribati presidential election

← 2007 13 January 2012 2016 →
 
Candidate Anote Tong Tetaua Taitai Rimeta Beniamina
Party PTK KTK MKP
Popular vote 14,315 11,886 7,738
Percentage 42.18% 35.02% 22.80%
Home Island Tabuaeran Tabiteuea Nikunau

President before election

Anote Tong

Elected President

Anote Tong

Tong beat Tetaua Taitai of the United Coalition Party and Rimeta Beniamina of the Maurin Kiribati Party with a little over 42% of the vote.[4]

Background

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The elections, initially scheduled for 30 December 2011, were postponed to 13 January 2012 in order to allow citizens of the country to travel to celebrate the New Year.[5]

Electoral system

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The president was elected by popular vote from among three or four candidates chosen by MPs, and was limited to three four-year terms under the constitution.[6]

Campaign

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The new House of Assembly of Kiribati nominated three candidates for the presidency following the 2011 parliamentary election.[6]

Results

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Incumbent President Anote Tong was the outright winner and re-elected as president of Kiribati, with an aggregate total of 14,315 votes or 42% of the total vote.[4] President Tong defeated his closest challenger, Tetaui Taitai, by more than 7%, or 2,500 votes.[4] The third challenger, Rimeta Beniamina, only received 7,738 votes. Tong was the leading candidate in 14 out of the 23 constituencies.[7][8]

President Tong's percentage of the vote (42%) was much less than his 2007 re-election, when he received 64% of the popular vote.[4]

Voter turnout was approximately 68% for the election.[7] This was higher than the 2007 presidential elections, when voter participation was a little over 50%.[4]

CandidatePartyVotes%
Anote TongPillars of Truth14,31542.18
Tetaua TaitaiUnited Coalition Party11,88635.02
Rimeta BeniaminaMaurin Kiribati Party7,73822.80
Total33,939100.00
Registered voters/turnout49,910
Source: IFES

References

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  1. ^ Kiribati elections delayed Radio Australia, 30 December 2011
  2. ^ Matau, Robert (12 October 2011). "Tong confirms contesting next election". Islands Business. Archived from the original on 20 October 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  3. ^ "Kiribati President confident he can win third term". Radio New Zealand International. 27 September 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Tong wins third term as Kiribati president". Radio Australia. 14 January 2012. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  5. ^ "Kiribati elections delayed". Australia News Network. 30 December 2011. Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Parliament Nominates 3 Candidates for Kiribati President". The Kiribati Independent. East–West Center's Pacific Islands Report. 25 November 2011. Archived from the original on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Kiribati's Tong beats challengers to win third term". Radio New Zealand International. 14 January 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  8. ^ "Results of the 2012 Presidential Election in Kiribati". Kiribati Online Community. 14 January 2012. Archived from the original on 29 May 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
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