2007 Marshallese general election

2007 Marshallese general election

19 November 2007
All 33 seats in the Nitijeļā 17 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	50.07%
Majority party Minority party   Leader David Kabua Kassai Note Party Aelon̄ Kein Ad UDP Seats won 18 15

General elections were held in the Marshall Islands on 19 November 2007.^[1]

Campaign

One of the election issues was whether to switch recognition from Taiwan to the China, with the opposition in favour of recognising China instead.^[2] However, Aelon Kein Ad stated on 28 November that they would not end ties with the ROC if they won the election.^[3]

Conduct

Due to delays in opening the polling stations (while they were meant to open at 7 AM, some did not open until midday and one did not open before 4 PM) polling continued until after midnight.^[4] While only 36,000 people were eligible to vote, the large number of postal ballots meant that results were not to be known before 4 December.^[5]

Results

Early results with 40% of the vote counted indicated a number of government party members could lose their seats, meaning it was possible that the opposition has won the election.^[1] On 30 November, the opposition Aelon̄ Kein Ad declared victory, claiming it had already won 15 of the 17 seats necessary for a majority and that it expected to gain about 20 to 22 seats.^[5]

The final vote count began on 4 December 2007.^[6] The opposition officially voiced their protest when the election website had not been updated by 8 December since the preliminary results were published on 27 November, questioning the legality of the recounting of votes from the outer islands,^[7] allegedly an attempt to change the results in four very close seats.^[8] The opposition party also claimed to have the necessary 17 senators to govern.^[9]

Final, unofficial results were released on 10 December; the candidates then had two weeks to file recount petitions and court challenges.^[10] As both the ruling United Democratic Party and the opposition Aelon Kein Ad claim to have the 17 MPs required to form a government, and since two seats were decided by a single vote and two others by five votes, many recount petitions are expected to be filed.^[11]

Figures from 12 December indicated that President Kassai Note's United Democratic Party had 14 seats while the opposition United People's Party (which forms part of the Aelon Kein Ad coalition), led by former speaker Litokwa Tomeing, had 15 seats. Aelon̄ Kein Ad continued to claim they had the 17 seats necessary to govern, and the election was considered likely be decided by the courts.^[12]

Both parties attempted to get independent MPs to join them, with both sides about two or three seats short of a majority.^[13][14]

Recounts for Maloelap and Likiep were ordered for 3 January 2008, and voters from the US have appealed for their votes to be counted as well despite some problems with the required post stamp.^[15]

Party		Votes	%	Seats
	Aelon̄ Kein Ad			18
	United Democratic Party			15
Total				33
Total votes		18,093	–
Registered voters/turnout		36,134	50.07
Source: IPU

By constituency

Constituency	Candidate	Votes	Notes
Ailinglaplap (2)	Christopher Loeak	917	Elected
	Ruben Zackhras	568	Elected
	Francis Horiuchi	448
	Gordon Note	440
	Harney Atjang Paul	91
Ailuk (1)	Maynard Alfred	311	Elected
	Hemos Jack	193
	Hackney Takju	70
Arno (2)	Gerald Zackios	543	Elected
	Nidel Lorak	539	Elected
	Mike Halferty	379
	Jiba Kabua	302
	Weiner Kattil	242
	Juan Lokot	101
	Ruman Jorbal	74
Aur (1)	Norman Matthew	209	Elected
	Danny Jack	92
Ebon (1)	John Silk	534	Elected
	Heran Bellu	349
Enewetak (1)	Jack Ading	171	Elected
	Ishmael John	79
Jabat (1)	Kessai Note	114	Elected
	Abo Loeak	42
Jaluit (2)	Alvin Jacklick	721	Elected
	Rien Morris	613	Elected
	Hilda Heine	458
	Fredrik Jitto de Brum	272
	John Kunar Bungitak	111
	Lenist Lanki	111
Kili/Bikini/Ejit (1)	Tomaki Juda	441	Elected
	March Samuel	218
Kwajalein (3)	Michael Kabua	883	Elected
	Tony de Brum	746	Elected
	Jeban Riklon	593	Elected
	Sato Maie	386
	Ataji Balos	219
	Steven Kori Dribo	197
Lae (1)	Relang Lemari	177	Elected
	Charles de Brum	77
	Rino Phillip	72
	Jolbo Samuel	25
Lib (1)	Jerakoj Bejang	263	Elected
	Irumne Bondrik	202
Likiep (1)	Tom Kijiner	319	Elected
	Donald Capelle	314
Majuro (5)	Jurelang Zedkaia	2,330	Elected
	Alik Alik	1,774	Elected
	David Kramer	1,668	Elected
	Brenson Wase	1,665	Elected
	Wilfred Kendall	1,506	Elected
	Phillip Muller	1,453
	Amatlain Kabua	1,415
	Witten Philippo	1,343
	Jack Jorbon	668
	Rosalie Konou	561
	Biuma Samson	538
	Jakeo Relang	461
	Melvin Narruhn	450
	Carl Heine	223
	Edwin Lakien	119
Maloelap (1)	Michael Konelios	381	Elected
	Patrick Langmoir	380
	Emil de Brum	26
Mejit (1)	Dennis Momotaro	567	Elected
	Helkena Anni	333
	Luckner Abner	116
Mili (1)	Kejjo Bien	373	Elected
	Tadashi Lometo	297
	Homer Graham	157
	Alee Alik	72
	Billy Billy	20
Namdrik (1)	Mattlan Zackhras	272	Elected
	Rod Nakamura	267
Namu (1)	Kaiboke Kabua	200	Elected
	Tony Aiseia	199
	Anna Anien	106
Rongelap (1)	Kenneth Kedi	281	Elected
	Atbi Riklon	268
	Abacca Anjain-Maddison	153
Ujae (1)	Fredrick Muller	141	Elected
	Caios Lucky	45
	Marcella Sakaio	21
	William Swain	11
Utrok (1)	Amenta Matthew	365	Elected
	Hiroshi V. Yamamura	336
Wotho (1)	David Kabua	223	Elected
	Elmer Langbata	64
	Namar N. Nashon	32
Wotje (1)	Litokwa Tomeing	—	Elected unopposed
Source: Psephos

Aftermath

In early January 2008 Taiwan accused China of interfering in the post-election process in a bid to help the opposition; the Taiwanese government claimed China hoped to have the Marshall Islands switch recognition to the China if the opposition gained power.^[16]

According to the results of the 2008 presidential election and the results of the election of the speaker, the opposition (consisting of Aelon̄ Kein Ad and the UPP) seemed to have either 18 or 17 seats, as opposed to the former government's 15 or 16 seats.^[17]

References

1. "Early election results from Marshall Islands indicate a possible change of government". Radio New Zealand International. 22 November 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
2. "Marshall Islands votes", ABC Radio Australia, 19 November 2007.
3. "Marshall Islands election: likely to retain Taiwan ties" Archived 2011-07-17 at the Wayback Machine, Radio Taiwan International, 28 November 2007.
4. "Chaos during Marshall Islands elections". Radio New Zealand International. 19 November 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
5. "Opposition declares win in Marshalls Election", Xinhua, 30 November 2007.
6. Giff Johnson, "Final Domestic Vote Count Still Not Available", Pacific Magazine, 2 December 2007.
7. "Marshalls Election Mess Gets Worse" Archived 2008-07-05 at the Wayback Machine, Pacific Magazine, 8 December 2007.
8. "Opposition in Marshall Islands claims vote counting illegal". Radio New Zealand International. 9 December 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
9. "Marshall Islands Opposition question election count", ABC Radio Australia, 9 December 2007.
10. Aenet Rowa, "Final, Unofficial Election Results Follow Controversial Recount" Archived 2011-05-22 at the Wayback Machine, Yokwe Online, 9 December 2007.
11. "No clear winner in Marshall Islands national parliamentary election". Radio New Zealand International. 10 December 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
12. "Courts expected to decide Marshall Islands election", ABC Radio Australia, 12 December 2007.
13. "Taiwan link a key issue as Marshalls power tussle continues". Radio New Zealand International. 17 December 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
14. Giff Johnson, "Marshalls gov’t plays Taiwan ‘card’; opposition calls for Note’s resignation", Marianas Variety, 17 December 2007.
15. "Election controversy continues to dog Marshalls Islands". Radio New Zealand International. 28 December 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
16. Shih Hsiu-chuan, "Taiwan slams Beijing for interference in Marshalls", Taipei Times, December 3, 2007, page 3.
17. Aenet Rowa, "Marshall Islands Has New President and Parliament Leaders" Archived 2011-05-22 at the Wayback Machine, Yokwe Online, 6 January 2008.