2008 Palauan general election
General elections were held in Palau on 4 November 2008 to elect the President and members of the National Congress. The presidential election was won by Johnson Toribiong. Incumbent President Tommy Remengesau was ineligible to run because he had served the maximum two consecutive terms allowed and announced that he would run for a seat in the Senate.[1]
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Presidential election | ||||||||||||||||||||
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This was the first election in Palau in which presidential candidates ran with a declared vice-presidential candidates.[1] In previous elections, the President and vice-presidents had been elected separately, and the winners of those elections served as a "national leadership team".[1]
Presidential candidates
Primary elections were held on 23 September,[1] with two candidates progressing to the general election in November. Four candidates registered for the primary elections:
- Elias Camsek Chin – The incumbent Vice-President was seeking a promotion to the Palauan presidency. His running mate was Senator Alan R. Seid.[1]
- Johnson Toribiong – He is the current Ambassador to the Republic of China (Taiwan), and he was running with Delegate Kerai Mariur.[1]
- Surangel S. Whipps – He is the President of the Senate and his running mate was Billy Kuartei, the Chief of Staff for President Remengesau.[1]
- Joshua Koshiba – He is a Senator and his running mate was Governor of Peleliu Jackson Ngiraingas.[1]
Campaign
All four presidential candidates and their running mates held rallies throughout Palau. Campaigning also took place in overseas Palauan communities in the mainland United States, Hawaii, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.[1]
A total of 43 candidates ran for the thirteen seats in the Senate,[1] while 44 candidates contested the sixteen seats in the House of Delegates.[1] A record ten women were competing for seats in the Senate and House of Delegates,[1] with seven women running for the at large Senate race.[1]
Results
President
Elias Chin and Johnson Toribiong were the top two vote-getters in the primary elections. Chin and Toribiong then faced each other in the general election.[2] In early, preliminary results Toribiong held a 130-vote lead over Chin, with 1,629 votes to Chin's 1,499.[3] Toribiong and his running mate, Kerai Mariur, were declared the winner of the election on 7 November.[4] It was reported that Toribiong had received a concession phone call from Vice-President Chin.[4]
| Candidate | Running mate | Primary | General | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | ||
| Elias Camsek Chin | Alan Seid | 3,027 | 32.95 | 4,828 | 48.93 |
| Johnson Toribiong | Kerai Mariur | 2,526 | 27.49 | 5,040 | 51.07 |
| Surangel Whipps | Billy Kuartei | 2,248 | 24.47 | ||
| Joshua Koshiba | Jackson Ngiraingas | 1,387 | 15.10 | ||
| Total | 9,188 | 100.00 | 9,868 | 100.00 | |
| Valid votes | 9,188 | 98.85 | 9,868 | 94.26 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 107 | 1.15 | 601 | 5.74 | |
| Total votes | 9,295 | 100.00 | 10,469 | 100.00 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | 14,289 | 73.27 | |||
| Source: Shuster | |||||
Senate
Surangel Whipps, Jr. has made history by becoming the first Senator to win by write-in and he also led all Senators with highest percentage (65.2%) of votes since his father achieved 73.5%.
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independents | 121,994 | 100.00 | 13 | +4 | |
| Total | 121,994 | 100.00 | 13 | +4 | |
| Total votes | 10,469 | – | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 14,289 | 73.27 | |||
| Source: IPU | |||||
Elected members
- Surangel Whipps Jr. (6,461)
- Raynold Oilouch (6,073)
- Mlib Tmetuchl (5,360)
- Joel Toribiong (5,086)
- Katharine Kesolei (4,947)
- Mark U. Rudimch (4,891)
- Hokkons Baules (4,437)
- Adalbert Eledui (3,934)
- Regina Mesebeluu(3,731)
- Alfonso N. Diaz (3,603)
- Tommy Remengesau Jr. (3,579)
- Regis Akitaya (3,144)
- Paul Ueki (3,044)
House of Delegates
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independents | 5,853 | 100.00 | 16 | 0 | |
| Total | 5,853 | 100.00 | 16 | 0 | |
| Valid votes | 5,853 | 96.01 | |||
| Invalid/blank votes | 243 | 3.99 | |||
| Total votes | 6,096 | 100.00 | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 14,289 | 42.66 | |||
| Source: IPU | |||||
Elected members
| Constituency | Elected member |
|---|---|
| Koror | Alexander Merep |
| Airai | Tmewang Rengulbai |
| Kayangel | Noah Kemesong |
| Ngarchelong | Marhence Madrangchar |
| Ngaraard | Gibson Kanai |
| Ngiwal | Noah Idechong |
| Melekeok | Lencer Basilius |
| Ngchesar | Secilil Eldebechel |
| Ngardmau | Rebluud Kesolei |
| Ngaremlengui | Swenny Ongidobel |
| Ngatpang | Jerry Nabeyama |
| Aimeliik | Kalistus Ngirturong |
| Peleliu | Jonathan Isechal |
| Angaur | Horace Rafael |
| Sonsorol | Celestine Yangilmau |
| Hatohobei | Wayne Andrew |
References
- Miho, David (2008-09-20). "Palauans Prepare For Tuesday Primary Election". Pacific Magazine. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
- Miho, David (2008-10-01). "Absentee Ballots Don't Change Outcome Of Palau Presidential Primary". Pacific Magazine. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
- Miho, David (2008-11-05). "Toribiong Has The Lead In Palau Presidential Vote". Pacific Magazine. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
- Miho, David (2008-11-07). "Johnson Toribiong Wins Palau Presidential Race". Pacific Magazine. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
External links
- Pacific Magazine: Record Number Of Women Seek Palau Senate Seats
- Okedyulabeluu: Updated results below
- Pacific Magazine: Johnson Toribiong Wins Palau Presidential Race
| Presidential elections | |
|---|---|
| Parliamentary elections | |
| Referendums | |
See also: Elections and referendums in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands | |