| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Olbiil Era Kelulau / National Congress |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name |
Senate |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
House of Delegates
|
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
2 November 2004 |
| Purpose of elections |
Elections were held for all the seats in the Senate on the normal expiry of the members' term of office. |
On 2 November 2004, Palauan were asked to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections, as well as on five proposed amendments to the Constitution. A sixth question was on the ballot, asking Palauans whether a Constitutional Convention should be held to review Palau's Constitution, which they had ratified 10 years before.
The proposed amendments were the result of a petition drive started by President Tommy Remengesau after he failed to reach an agreement with Palau National Congress to make several amendments through laws. These proposals would: allow dual citizenship; allow the election of a president and vice president as a team; limit Members of Parliament to three four-year terms; transform the bicameral Parliament into a unicameral one and; and adjust members' salaries.
President Tommy Remengesau Jr., who fought for re-election with the campaign slogan, "Preserving the best, while improving the rest," against a businessman, Mr Polycarp Basilius, advocated balancing economic growth with environmental protection "
Some 12,900 voters were registered to cast their votes in the seventh general elections to be held in the country. No parties exist.
In the presidential elections, incumbent Tommy Remengesau won re-election with some 64 per cent of the vote while his main challenger, Mr Polycarp Basilius obtained about 36 per cent. Mr Elias Camsek Chin was elected Vice-President, defeating incumbent Sandra Pierantozzi by some 71 to 29 per cent.
Regarding the five amendments of the Constitution, only four of them were approved. The proposed transformation of the bicameral Parliament into a unicameral one did not garner enough votes needed to change the Constitution.
A slight majority of voters (53 per cent) endorsed the creation of a Constitutional Convention.
|
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 2 November 2004 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
12'922
|
|
Notes
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| Distribution of votes |
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| Distribution of seats |
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| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
9
0
0.00%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
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| Distribution of seats according to profession |
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| Comments |
| Breakdown of seats by political group: not applicale, no parties |
A historical Archive of past election results for this chamber can be found on a separate page