Kiribati: Parliamentary Election, 30 December 2015

At stake in this election:

• 46 seats in the Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (House of Assembly)

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003)
• Head of Government: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003)
• Assembly: Kiribati has a unicameral Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (House of Assembly) composed of 46 seats with members serving 4-year terms.

Description of electoral system:

• In the House of Assembly, 44 membesr are directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in two rounds, 1 member is appointed by the Rabi Council of Leaders, and there is 1 ex officio member – the attorney general.

Last Election:

• Elections were last held in October 2011. In these elections, the Boutokaan Te Koaua party won 15 seats, the Karikirakean Tei-Kiribati party won 10, and the Mauring Kiribati Party won 3. Additionally, the remainder of the seats went to independent candidates.

Main candidates in the election:

• Boutokaan Te Koaua (BTK)
  • Leader: Anote TONG
  • Seats won in last election: 15
• Karikirakean Tei-Kiribati (KTK)
  • Leader: Tetaua TAITAI
  • Seats won in last election: 10
• Maurin Kiribati Party (MKP)
  • Leader: Rimeta BENIAMINA
  • Seats won in last election: 3
• Independents
  • Seats won in last election: 16

Population and number of registered voters:

·         Population: 105,711 (July 2015 est.)

·         Registered Voters: 43,184

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 54,086 (July 2015 est.)

·         Is Kiribati a signatory to CEDAW: N/A

·         Has Kiribati ratified CEDAW: Yes, Accession (17 March 2004)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 4 (8.70%)

·         Human Development Index Position: 137 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

·         Is Kiribati a signatory to CRPD: N/A

·         Has Kiribati ratified CRPD: Yes (27 September 2013)

·         Population with a disability: 15,857