Elections for a Legislative Assembly were held in Nauru on 26 January 1968, following passage of the Nauru Independence Act 1967 which granted Nauru independence from Australia with effect from 31 January 1968.Nancy Viviani (1970) Nauru: Phosphate and Political Progress Australian National University Press, p176
Background A Constitutional Convention was elected in 1967 and produced a new constitution in preparation for independence, which provided for an 18-member Legislative Assembly with a three-year term. The Assembly would then appoint a five-member Council of State to exercise executive power.
Results Of the 18 elected members, half consisted of the nine members of the Legislative Council elected in 1966.
Aftermath The Assembly met for the first time on 31 January and elected the new five-member Council of State. Seven candidates were nominated for the contest, although Victor Eoaeo pulled out as he continued to oppose Nauruan independence.Off to a good, cautious start, but Nauru's problems are still ahead of her Pacific Islands Monthly, March 1968, pp30–31 The Council subsequently elected Hammer DeRoburt as its chairman.
Election for the Council of StateCandidateVotesResults Austin Bernicke17ElectedHammer DeRoburt17ElectedBuraro Detudamo16ElectedJoseph Detsimea Audoa13ElectedJames Ategan Bop12ElectedSamuel Tsitsi10Not Elected
On 17 May the Assembly elected the first President. Bernicke, DeRoburt and Detudamo were all nominated. However, Bernicke and Detudamo both declined their nominations, resulting in DeRoburt being elected unopposed. He then formed a new cabinet, with Bernicke as Minister for Health and Education, Bop as Minister for Finance, Detsimea as Minister for Justice and Detudamo as Minister for Works.Nauru has a president Pacific Islands Monthly, June 1968, p23
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