Kiribati election: Voters head to second round to decide who forms government

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The second round of elections on August 19 will determine the composition of the new government.
photo: Kiribati Newsroom/Rimon Rimon

Kiribati voters will cast ballots on Monday in the second round of the Micronesian nation’s 2024 national elections.

Polls open at 7 a.m., with nearly 53,000 eligible voters set to choose from 19 candidates. After 25 MPs confirmed their seats In the first round of elections held on 14 August, Maneaba ni Maungatabu (Parliament) won 45 seats.

The incumbent president, Taneti Maamau, leader of the Tobwaan Kiribati Party (TKP), retained his seat in his home island of Onotoa.

Opposition leader Tessie Lambourne, leader of the Butokaan Kiribati Movement (BKM), also retained her seat in Abemama.

Polls will close at 6pm today and the results are expected to be announced on Tuesday morning.

Te Uekera newspaper (Broadcasting and Publications Authority) editor Ueretan Bauro told RNZ Pacific the winner would be announced if 50 per cent of the vote was received in the first round.

According to Kiribati journalists and Kiribati Newsroom HostLimon Limon.

“Voting began early on election day and people spent the next two days waiting for the results. Results for 22 constituencies were announced only on the evening of the first and second day, with South Tarawa, the largest constituency, taking the longest to announce final results.

He said that among the elected representatives, 17 were returning councillors, including another 11 councillors from TKP in Maamau.

Limon said three of them were members of the former opposition Kamanoan Kiribati Party (KKP), including Lambourne; two were independents; and eight were newly elected lawmakers.

“Although the Communist Party of Turkey is currently leading with 12 re-elected MPs, it is too early to tell which party will get the majority.

He added: “Twelve constituencies are awaiting the second round of elections and the final outcome will depend on the new councillors and their political loyalties.”