Lazarus Salii

Lazarus Eitaro Salii (17 November 1936 – 20 August 1988) was a politician from Palau. He served as the second elected[1] President of Palau from 25 October 1985 until his death by suicide on 20 August 1988, amid bribery allegations.[2]

His Excellency Lazarus Eitaro Salii
3rd President of Palau
In office 25 October 1985 – 20 August 1988
Vice President	Thomas Remengesau Sr.
Preceded by	Alfonso Oiterong
Succeeded by	Thomas Remengesau Sr.
Personal details
Born	(1936-11-17)17 November 1936 Angaur, South Seas Mandate (present day Palau)
Died	20 August 1988(1988-08-20) (aged 51) Koror, Palau
Political party	Ta Belau[1]
Spouse	Tina Salii

Salii was elected to the Senate of Micronesian Congress.[3] He was involved in the Palau Constitutional Convention of 1978. After the Constitution took effect in 1981, he became an ambassador. As ambassador, he was given wide-ranging authority to negotiate with the U.S. ambassador.[4] He was ambassador until 1984, when he became a senator, representing Koror in the Palau National Congress.

When President Haruo Remeliik was assassinated on 30 June 1985, Salii was elected in August to finish his term of office (although Thomas Remengesau and then Alfonso Oiterong served in the interim). Following his suicide by gunshot in 1988, he was succeeded by Vice President Remengesau as president for the remainder of his term, followed by Ngiratkel Etpison as the fifth president.[5]

He was the elder brother of Carlos Salii.[6]