| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Maneaba Ni Maungatabu / House of Assembly |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) (from/to) | 30 December 2015
7 January 2016 |
| Purpose of elections |
The elections saw 22 new parliamentarians elected to the 46-member parliament. Several ministers and veteran parliamentarians, including former President Teatao Teannaki, lost their seats. A record 18 women up from 12 in 2011 were candidates, however, only three were elected, compared to four in the previous parliament.
Parties are loose groupings in Kiribati and there were no official manifestos. During the election campaign, many candidates focused on climate change, and promised to work for more economic development and better employment.
The Speaker is elected among persons who are not members of Parliament. On 5 February 2016, the new House of Assembly held its first session and elected Mr. Teatao Teannaki as its Speaker. He is from the Tobwaan Kiribati Party (TKP), which was formed after a merger between the Karikirakean Te I-Kiribati Party and the Maurin Kiribati Party.
The House of Assembly also selected three presidential candidates from among its members: Mr. Taaneti Mamau (TKP), Mr. Rimeta Beniamina (Boutokan teKoaua Party, BTK) and Mr. Tianeti Ioane (BTK). Outgoing President Anote Tong of (BTK) was constitutionally barred from running for the presidency after serving the maximum three terms as President. On 9 March, Mr. Mamau (TKP) was elected as the new President. |
Date of previous elections: 21 & 28 October 2011
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 25 November 2015
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry*
*General elections are due within three months of the dissolution of parliament (i.e., by February 2016)
Expected date of next elections: December 2019
Number of seats at stake: 44 (full renewal)
Number of candidates: 133 (115 men, 18 women)
Percentage of women candidates: 13.5%
Number of parties contesting the election: 3
Number of parties winning seats: 3*
*The Karikirakean Te I-Kiribati Party and the Maurin Kiribati Party formed the Tobwaan Kiribati Party (TKP) after the elections.
Alternation of power: Yes
Date of the first session of the new parliament: 5 February 2016
Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Teatao Teannaki (Tobwaan Kiribati Party, TKP) |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 (from/to) | 30 December 2015
7 January 2016 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
40'000
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% |
|
|
| Boutokaan te Koaua (Pillars of Truth) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Tobwaaan Kiribati Party (TKP) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
|
|
|
|
| Boutokaan te Koaua (Pillars of Truth) |
26
|
|
|
|
|
| Tobwaaan Kiribati Party (TKP) |
19
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
43
3
6.52%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
Source: House of Assembly (11.01.2016, 26.02.2016)
Note:
The distribution of seats according to political group above refers to the composition of parliament on 5 February 2016. They include 44 directly elected members and one appointed member.
Note on the distribution of seats according to sex:
The statistics include one appointed member and one ex officio member (the Attorney General). Both are men. |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
