Election to the local government council in Nauru 1951
The election for the Local Government Council in Nauru took place on December 15, 1951. It was the first parliamentary election in the history of the Micronesian island.
background
1927 on Nauru, an existing from the fourteen district chiefs "Council of Chiefs" ( German Council of Chiefs formed). However, this only had an advisory role to the Australian administrator of the mandate area; the Board of Chiefs was not granted voting rights. After the end of the Second World War, Nauru became the trustee area of the United Nations. As early as 1948/49 , the UN Trusteeship Council suggested that the Nauru people should have greater influence on their own politics. At that time only the post of "Native Affairs Officer" ( German representative for affairs of the natives ) was occupied by a local, the "Head Chief" ( German Oberhäkelling ) Timothy Detudamo . A petition from the Chief Council with similar demands was not supported by the Australian administration. A United Nations visiting mission in April 1950 proposed to the Trustee Council that the Council of Chiefs should be given greater responsibility, particularly in the field of legislation and budget law . On August 20, 1951, the establishment of a "Nauru Local Government Council" was ( German Local Government ) agreed. The intended more significant influence of the Nauruan citizens on politics, however, failed because of major gaps in the arrangement.
Suffrage and organization
The fourteen traditional districts of Naurus were divided into eight constituencies ; the constituency of Ubenide designated two, the remaining constituencies each one member of the government council. There was universal suffrage and a universal compulsory election for men only; persons who were serving a prison sentence were excluded . All active voters were also granted the right to stand as a candidate .
Election result
For the election on Saturday, December 15, 1951, a total of 21 candidates ran in the eight constituencies. 655 votes were cast, including 23 invalid votes.
| Constituency | Districts | Elected candidates |
|---|---|---|
| Aiwo | Aiwo | Raymond Gadabu |
| Anabar | Anabar , Ijuw and Anibare | Adeang Deireragea |
| Anetan | Anetan and Ewa | Roy Degoregore |
| Boe | Boe | Appi Deigorongo ( unopposed ) |
| Buada | Buada | Totouwa Depaune |
| Ubenide | Denigomodu , Nibok , Uaboe and Baiti | Timothy Detudamo , Austin Bernicke |
| Meneng | Meneng | James Ategan Bop |
| Yaren | Yaren | Julius Akubor |
After the election
The government council met for the first time on December 18, 1951 in the Domaneab and decided to hold weekly meetings as well as monthly meetings with the administrator of the trust area. Incumbent Detudamo was again elected "Head Chief". The council members criticized their limited position of power, which did not go beyond that of the "Council of Chiefs". The administration still had the right to reject decisions of the government council as well as control over the budget ; the council was empowered to maintain peace within the districts. In 1953, the United Nations visiting mission was disappointed with the lack of a development process towards political independence. Chief Detudamo died in April 1953 after a long illness. Raymond Gadabu was elected as his successor in a replacement election. 1954 the powers of the government council on the financial level were expanded. The subsequent election was held in December 1955 after a four-year term.
Individual evidence
- ^ Nancy Viviani: Nauru: Phosphate and Political Progress. Australian National University Press, Canberra 1970, pp. 60-61.
- ^ Nancy Viviani: Nauru: Phosphate and Political Progress. Australian National University Press, Canberra 1970, pp. 92-95.
- ^ Nancy Viviani: Nauru: Phosphate and Political Progress. Australian National University Press, Canberra 1970, p. 96.
- ^ Nancy Viviani: Nauru: Phosphate and Political Progress. Australian National University Press, Canberra 1970, p. 104.
- ↑ Nauruans to Elect Own Council. In: Pacific Islands Monthly , December 1951 issue, p. 95.
- ^ Women's Suffrage: A World Chronology of the Recognition of Women's Rights to Vote and to Stand for Election. In: ipu.org , accessed October 23, 2019.
- ^ A b Nancy Viviani: Nauru: Phosphate and Political Progress. Australian National University Press, Canberra 1970, p. 105.
- ^ Nancy Viviani: Nauru: Phosphate and Political Progress. Australian National University Press, Canberra 1970, pp. 105-107.