The Parliament of Nauru, officially the Parliament of Naoero, is the legislative body for the Republic of Naoero. It has 19 members, elected for a four-year term in multi-seat constituencies. The president of Nauru is elected by the members of the Parliament."About Parliament", Parliament of Nauru The number of seats was increased to 19 following elections in 2013."Nauru country brief" , Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 10 November 2012
The members of the Parliament of Nauru are elected by a positional voting system.
History The Parliament of Nauru came into existence with the country's independence on 31 January 1968. The island was previously a United Nations Trust Territory administered by Australia. The Australian government's Nauru Act 1965 created the Legislative Council for the Territory of Nauru, consisting of 15 members – nine elected members, one ex officio member (the administrator of Nauru), and five "official members" nominated by the administrator.
On 22 March 2010, Radio New Zealand International reported that President Marcus Stephen had dissolved Parliament in readiness for elections on 24 April 2010. The election saw all 18 MPs returned, but by this stage, nine of them had formed the Opposition, resulting in a deadlocked Parliament. Another election was held in June 2010, as a result of the continuing deadlock. After weeks of uncertainty, the deadlock was resolved when the Opposition agreed to have one of its own MPs, Ludwig Scotty, elected as speaker. President Stephen then suggested that the number of MPs should be expanded to 19, to prevent future deadlocks., ABC Radio Australia, 13 May 2010 In late 2012, Parliament, under the leadership of President Dabwido, acted on this suggestion and passed a law increasing the number of seats to 19 after election in 2013, it is expected to prevent future deadlocks like the one in 2010.
Current MPs
ConstituencyMemberPositionPoints#1 Votes Aiwo Rennier Gadabu Deputy Minister 458.775 Delvin Thoma Minister 468.759 Anabar Maverick Eoe Minister 499.393 Pyon Deiye 340.486 Anetan Timothy Ika Deputy Minister 568.517 Marcus Stephen Speaker 473.433 Boe Asterio Appi Minister 589.000 Wanganeen Emiu Deputy Minister 412.450 Buada Shadlog Bernicke Minister 318.950 Bingham Agir 215.767 Meneng Lionel Aingimea Vice President 839.528 Jesse Jeremiah Minister 731.896 Lyn-Wannan Kam Deputy Minister 567.187 Ubenide David Adeang President 837.298 Russ Kun Deputy Minister 620.795 Reagan Aliklik Minister 668.881 Ranin Akua Deputy Minister 454.962 Yaren Charmaine Scotty Minister 627.412 Isabella Dageago Deputy Minister 498.905 Source: Nauru Electoral Commission
Speaker
The Speaker is the presiding officer of Parliament. The Speaker is an MP elected by the MPs. The Speaker has no vote in no-confidence votes and presidential elections.
Following the April 2008 election, Riddell Akua was appointed Speaker of the Parliament of Nauru. He replaced David Adeang."Nauru president moves to ensure political stability" , ABC Radio Australia, 1 May 2008
Two weeks after the April 2010 election, Godfrey Thoma was elected Speaker. Due to the political deadlock, fresh elections were held in June, after which Parliament continued to be deadlocked until the election of Ludwig Scotty to the chair in November 2010. Scotty resigned at the end of the 20th Parliament in March 2013. Godfrey Thoma was elected to replace him. Following the 2013 election, Scotty was re-elected to the speaker's post.
References
Sources http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2013-06-11/baron-waqa-named-as-new-nauru-president/1144022 http://www.nauru.gov.nr/government-information-office/media-release/honbaron-waqa-elected-president.aspx