more presidents

Nauru nets two more presidents

When Pacific Islands Monthly last reported on the leadership of Nauru (Nauru’s new-new president, Jan, 97), there had been three presidents in a period of 20 days. Since then, there have been two more and an election, which may lead to more stability in the future.

To review the bidding, during much of 1996 the president had been Lagumot Harris, who struggled with the declining income from the fast-disappearing stock of phosphate, and the island’s long history

of sloppy fiscal management. On November 7, the narrowly divided par liament (which has only 18 members) ousted Harris in favour of a former pres ident, Bernard Dowiyogo; on November 26, Kennan Adeang, a reformer, replaced Dowiyogo but, in turn, lost a no-confi dence vote and an interim president, Reuben Kun, was named while an Island-wide election took place.

The election was held on February 8 and everyone mentioned in the prior paragraph was re-elected to the parlia ment. But there were some newcomers, including replacements for the sitting

speaker (Maein Deireragea) and Ruby

Dediya (an Adeang ally and the only woman in the earlier house).

When the dust settled, a fifth presi dent (in four months) emerged; he is Kinza Clodumar, a one-time finance minister. Dowiyogo is back in the cabi net and Adeang is now the speaker.

How long the current coalition will last is anyone’s guess, but the current majority is said to be firmer than any of

the previous ones

By David North