2017 Marshallese Constitutional Convention election

Constitutional Convention elections were held in the Marshall Islands on 21 February 2017.[1]

The convention

Background

A constitutional convention is used in the Marshall Islands to consider proposed constitutional amendments that have been endorsed by the Legislature. The convention cannot propose new amendments and can only debate those approved by the parliament.[2] Previous conventions had been held in 1977, 1989 and 1995.[3]

While more were added after the election, the proposed changes for the 2017 Constitutional Convention initially included:[4]

  • Direct election of the President.
  • Creating the position of Vice-President.
  • Stopping the Legislature removing the President, Vice-President and Cabinet from office by motion of no confidence.
  • Requiring presidential candidates to be a natural-born citizen.
  • Reserving six seats in the Legislature for women.
  • Requiring automatic rejection of appropriation bills that do not provide a balanced budget.
  • Protection from sexual discrimination being enshrined in the Bill of Rights.
  • Creation of an ombudsman's office.
  • Empowering the Attorney General to ask an independent body to investigate possible cases of fraud, corruption or unethical behaviour by elected officials and other high-ranking officials.
  • Increasing the number of members of the Council of Iroij by one.
  • Introducing a constitutional ban on the sale of land except where the lineage of the bwij (clan) owning the land is extinct.

Electoral system

The 45 members of the Constitutional Convention consisted of 33 directly-elected delegates elected from the 33 Legislature districts, and 12 Iroijs (chiefs).[5] Postal voting was not allowed.[1]

Campaign

A total of 119 candidates contested the 33 directly-elected seats, whilst 24 ran for the 12 seats reserved for the Iroijs. All but seven of the thirty-three members of the Legislature ran for election to the convention.[6]

Results

Elected members
SeatMember
Directly-electedJack J. Ading
Tony Aiseia
Jack Akeang
Maynard Alfred
Jejwarick H. Anton
Jerakoj J. Bejang
Winnie Benjamin
Kejjo Bien
Donald F. Capelle
Stephen K. Dribo
McAvoy M. Espern
Thomas Heine
Peterson Jibas
Jimmy Jonathan
David Kabua
Hilton Kendall
Jien Morris Lekka
Nuia Loeak
Yoland Logdge-Ned
Nidel Lorak
Rebecca Lorennij
Lomes McKay
Almo Momotaro
Phillip H. Muller
Neti Nathan
Casten Nemra
Kessai H. Note
David Paul
Atbi Riklon
Jorelik Tibon
Stanny Tomeing
Brenson Wase
Ruben Zackhras
IroijsHelkena Anni
Bruce Bilimon
Elbod Boaz
Kiorina Capelle
Wilbur Heine
Kosma Johanes
Michael Kabua
Tommy Kijiner Jr.
Kotak Loeak
Christopher J. Loeak
Lein Zedkeia
Source: RMI Constitutional Convention

Aftermath

The Constitutional Convention opened in April 2017. Kessai Note was elected as the body's President, defeating Christopher Loeak by a vote of 22–21.[3]

After a long pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the works of the convention was finally put to a referendum on 20 November 2023.

References

  1. Voters stay home Marshall Islands Journal, 23 July 2017
  2. Marshall Is seats to be hotly contested Radio New Zealand, 23 December 2016
  3. Long-awaited Con-Con starts Marshall Islands Journal, 20 April 2017
  4. At long last: Yes to Con-Con Marshall Islands Journal, 1 October 2015
  5. Brief Overview of Political Development in the Republic of the Marshall Islands RMI Constitutional Convention
  6. Marshalls candidates gear for Con-Con election Marianas Variety, 23 December 2016
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