Kiribati election begins: ‘Not as hyped as in other countries’

photo: Shifani Sood

A local Kiribati resident said the atmosphere in Kiribati is “very calm” and “not as lively as in other countries.”

People in the Micronesian nation will go to the polls in the first round on Wednesday.

Polls open at 7am NZ time.

There are 115 candidates for 44 parliamentary seats, 97 of them men and 18 women. The 45th seat is nominated by the Banaba community, most of whom live on Fiji’s Rabi Island.

Robert Carolo, a local resident of the capital Tarawa, told Radio New Zealand Pacific via email on Tuesday night that the election was a “big moment” for the people of Micronesia.

But he said Kiribati’s elections were different from other democracies around the world “because of the nature and culture of the Kiribati people”.

“Kiribati people are very respectful and respecting each other’s candidates is a common practice here.”

He said currently three islands have confirmed their MPs as the candidates are unopposed.

The ruling Tobwana Kiribati Party (TKP) is in the lead as three of the four candidates from the three islands are from the current government.

He said the outcome of the election “will be determined by those who vote and choose their leaders for the next four years.”

As for the political parties, Carollo said voters will have a clearer idea of ​​the results after the first round of voting on Wednesday night.

He added that the TUC South, which is part of Tarawa, had 23 candidates, the most so far.

Voting will close at 6 p.m.

On August 13, 2024, election candidate Kairao Bauea campaigned in South Tarawa, the largest constituency and capital of Kiribati.
photo: BenarNews/Rimon Rimon

“Women have power”

A former Kiribati journalist is one of 18 female candidates vying for the Maneaba ni Maungatabu (parliamentary) seat.

Kairao Bauea is running for the first time on the political stage to represent South Tarawa, Kiribati’s largest constituency. BenarNews reports.

Bauea, 47, is committed to promoting a greater role for women in politics and believes she is ready to step out of her home and into a bigger home – the Kiribati Parliament.

“Women have power, maybe not ‘male power,’ but power to change things for the better,” she said, according to BenarNews.