government and politics

The Kiribati government has a House of Assembly (Maneaba ni Maungatabu) of thirty-nine members, popularly elected, plus one appointed Banaban representative. If the Attorney General is not an elected member of the House, he is made an ex officio member. Candidates for the office of President (Beretitenti) are chosen by House of Assembly from among its members, but are elected by popular vote of the I-Kiribati. All adult I-Kiribati have the right to vote.

English is the official language of the government, but it is not often used beyond the island of Tarawa. The majority of the I-Kiribati speak Gilbertese, a Micronesian tongue. Much of the government's authority is centered in the Gilberts. The internal affairs of the outer islands are usually handled by local councils, elders or chiefs.

The President, who is head of state and head of the government, may be removed from office by the House of Assembly upon the failure of a vote of confidence. When this occurs, the House of Assembly is dissolved. New elections for the House and the President are then held.

The executive branch consists of the President and his appointed cabinet. The other members of the cabinet are the Vice President, Attorney General and eight other members. Members of the President's cabinet, including the President himself, can and often do have more than one area of responsibility.

So poor is Kiribati that it cannot afford to establish an embassy or keep an ambassador in the United States, though it has established diplomatic relations. Their sole diplomatic representative located in the United States at this time is an Honorary Consul in Hawaii.

It is a member of the United Nations, but it has no mission or embassy in New York, and the ambassador's post is vacant as well. Its ambassador to the United Kingdom resides on Tarawa rather than being posted in London. The only diplomats abroad are in Australia and New Zealand.

Ieremia Tebai, who was Chief Minister at the time of independence, became the first President of Kiribati in 1979. He was removed from office by the House of Assembly in December of 1982, but was reelected by the people in February of 1983 and again in May of 1987.

The Kiribati constitution prohibits the President from serving more than two consecutive four-year terms. Tebai claimed that he had not served two full terms by 1987 and was therefore eligible for another term. Apparently, the Parliament agreed with this assertion.

Tebai was succeeded by President Teatao Teannaki in elections held in May of 1991. In addition to the presidency, Teannaki also held the portfolios of foreign affairs and international trade.

Political parties such as the Democrats and Republicans in the United States, with loyal members and a unique platform and philosophy, do not exist but are evolving slowly. The parties of Kiribati were primarily supporters of a particular candidate until the 1985 fishing agreement with the U.S.S.R. The Christian Democrat Party was begun by Dr. Harry Tong as an opposition group to the Soviet treaty and has continued to be a force in Kiribati politics. Two larger parties, the leading National Progressive Party and the Liberal Party, also exist in Kiribati.

introduction | history | geography | land | population | economy
government and politics | people | outlook | conclusion | references | appendix

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