Election Date: November 4, 2008

Abstract: At stake: President, National Congress

At stake: President, National Congress

Background

The nation of Palau, located east of Indonesia and home to about 21,100 people, encompasses more than 200 islands in the North Pacific Ocean. From 1899 to 1947, the area was controlled by Spain, Germany and Japan, finally becoming a United Nations (UN) Trust Territory after the end of World War II.

Despite being established as a republic in 1981, Palau finally achieved its independence in 1994. The country remains in a Compact of Free Association with the United States, receiving considerable financial aid from Washington. The U.S. operates military bases and remains in charge of defence.

English and Palauan are the official languages of Palau.

In its early years of existence, Palau went through periods of political instability, which included the assassination of president Haruo Remeliik in 1985, and the apparent suicide of head of state Lazarus Salii in 1988.

In 2000, former vice-president Tommy Remengesau won the presidential election. Remengesau has tried to moderately promote Palau as a tourist destination, while trying to reduce the country's dependence on American financial aid.

In the 2004 presidential election, Remengesau earned a second term as president, defeating businessman Polycarp Basilius. Incumbent vice-president Sandra Pierantozzi lost to former U.S. army officer Elias Camsek Chin.

Click here for Palau’s 2004 Presidential Election Tracker 

Aside from the presidential and legislative elections, voters took part in a special ballot on five constitutional amendments put forward by Remengesau. The initiatives on dual citizenship, term limits, regulated compensation for lawmakers and electing the president and vice-president on the same ticket all passed, while the unicameral legislative branch was rejected. More than half of all voters chose to hold a Constitutional Convention.

In 2006, Remengesau hosted the first Taiwan-Pacific Allies Summit. The meeting was part of a major initiative to further integrate Palau with the Pacific region.

2008 Presidential and Legislative Elections

Presidential and legislative elections will take place on Nov. 4 as scheduled in Palau’s electoral calendar. Incumbent president Tommy Remengesau is ineligible for a third term in office. There are no political parties in Palau.

On Sept. 23, current vice-president Elias Camsek Chin and running mate Alan Seid won the presidential primaries with 2,335 votes. Attorney Johnson Toribiong and vice-presidential contender Kerai Mariur came in second with 2,090 votes. The two teams will face each other on the Nov. 4 ballot.

Election officials noted an extremely low turnout in the primaries of just 53 per cent, with only 7,691of Palau’s 14,800 registered voters taking part in the process.

Chin acted as vice-president and minister of justice during the administration of Remengesau since 2004. He served in the U.S. Army and retired as a lieutenant colonel. Seid is a high-profile Senator and a well-known businessman.

Chin’s platform is focused on revitalizing Palau’s economy. The candidate has vowed to get more airlines to fly into their country to boost tourism.

Toribiong is an attorney and a former ambassador to Taiwan. Mariur, his running mate, is currently a representative in the lower house of the National Congress, where he has been a harsh critic of the Remengesau administration. Toribiong has vowed to improve the quality of life of Palauans through boosting the private sector.

On Oct. 1, Remengesau confirmed he will run for a seat in the Senate in the upcoming election. The president, who had said to be undecided about his bid until then, declared, "Though it is unprecedented that a president run for Senate after serving as president, my dedication and determination to serve the public is still as strong as it was when I was first elected to office."

Palau is one of Taiwan’s 23 allies in the world. Both presidential candidates have said that their administration would maintain ties with Taiwan.

Earlier this year, four lawmakers—speaker Antonio Bells, floor leader Sabino Anastacio, and delegates Mario Gulibert and Lucio Ngiraiwet—had asked Palau’s Supreme Court to overturn a law saying that lawmakers cannot serve for more than three terms. The law had already been upheld by the Election Commission.

On Oct. 8, the Supreme Court upheld the three-term limit for Congress seats. Chief Justice Arthur Ngiraklsong said the election commission had acted correctly when it rejected attempts by the four delegates to run for re-election, and criticized them for trying to change the law for their own benefit.

Voting took place on Nov. 4. Final results of the presidential ballot released on Nov. 7 gave Toribiong and Mariur the victory with 51.12 per cent of all cast ballots. Chin and Seid garnered 48.88 per cent of the vote.

Political Players

President: Tommy Remengesau
Vice-president: Elias Camsek Chin

The president and vice-president are elected to a four-year term by popular vote. Starting in 2008, they will be elected on the same ticket.

Legislative Branch: The Olbiil era Kelulau (National Congress) has two chambers. The House of Delegates has 16 members, elected to four-year terms in single-seat constituencies. The Senate has nine members, elected to four-year terms in single-seat constituencies.  

Results of Last Election:

President - Sept. 23 and Nov. 4, 2008

	Sept. 23 (Primary)	Nov. 4 (Election)
Johnson Toribiong	27.49%	51.12%
Elias Camsek Chin	32.95%	48.88%
Surangel Whipps	24.47%	--
Joshua Koshiba	15.10%	--

National Congress - Nov. 4, 2008

16 non-partisan members were elected to the House of Delegates, and nine non-partisan members were elected to the Senate.

 

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