Politics of Kiribati takes place in a framework of a

parliamentary A parliamentary system, or parliamentarian democracy, is a system of democratic governance of a state (or subordinate entity) where the executive derives its democratic legitimacy from its ability to command the support ("confidence") of the ...

representative democratic Representative democracy, also known as indirect democracy, is a type of democracy where elected people represent a group of people, in contrast to direct democracy. Nearly all modern Western-style democracies function as some type of represe ...

republic A republic () is a " state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th ...

, whereby the ''Beretitenti'',

President of Kiribati The president of Kiribati ( gil, Beretitenti) is the head of state and head of government of Kiribati. Following a general election, by which citizens elect the members of the House of Assembly, members select from their midst "not less than 3 ...

, is both the

head of state A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and ...

and

head of government The head of government is the highest or the second-highest official in the executive branch of a sovereign state, a federated state, or a self-governing colony, autonomous region, or other government who often presides over a cabinet, a ...

, and of a

multi-party system In political science, a multi-party system is a political system in which multiple political parties across the political spectrum run for national elections, and all have the capacity to gain control of government offices, separately or in ...

Executive power The Executive, also referred as the Executive branch or Executive power, is the term commonly used to describe that part of government which enforces the law, and has overall responsibility for the governance of a state. In political systems b ...

is exercised by the government, Beretitenti, and his

cabinet Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to: Furniture * Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers * Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets * Filin ...

, all MPs.

Legislative power A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country or city. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial powers of government. Laws enacted by legislatures are usually known a ...

is exercised by the

House of Assembly House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral parliament. In some countries this may be at a subnational level. Historically, in British Crown colonies A Crown colony or royal colony was a colony adm ...

. The

Judiciary of Kiribati The Judiciary of Kiribati is the branch of the Government of Kiribati which interprets and applies the laws of the country. In addition to the Constitution of Kiribati and the corpus of laws, the laws of Kiribati include customary law, which the c ...

is independent of the executive and the legislature. The

Constitution of Kiribati The Constitution of Kiribati is the supreme law of Kiribati, which was implemented in 1979. The constitution was subsequently amended in the years 1995, 2016, and 2018. The constitution established the principles of the Bill of Rights and the prot ...

, promulgated at independence on 12 July 1979, establishes the

Republic of Kiribati Kiribati (), officially the Republic of Kiribati ( gil, ibaberikiKiribati),Kiribati
''The Wor ...

as a sovereign democratic republic and guarantees the fundamental rights of its citizens and residents.

Executive branch

After each general election, the new-elected ''Maneaba ni Maungatabu'' (House of Assembly) nominates not less than three nor more than four of its own members to stand as candidates for President (''Beretitenti''). The voting public then elects the Beretitenti from among these candidates. On 22 June 2020, for the first election ever since 1979 Independence, two candidates only have been nominated — unless Section 32(2) of the Constitution writes “not less than 3”. On 17 June 2020, Judgment of Sir

John Muria Sir Gilbert John Baptist Muria is a Solomon Islands judge and was the first indigenous Solomon Islander to be Chief Justice of the Solomon Islands. Muria was Chief Justice of the Solomon islands from 1992 to 2003. He then sat as a judge on the cou ...

, the Chief Justice on Civil Case 56, allowed this reading of the Constitution. The elected Beretitenti appoints a ''Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti'' (vice-president) and up to ten other Cabinet Ministers from among the members of the Maneaba.

Cabinet

The Cabinet is the top decision-making body in Kiribati, through which all functions of the government get their authority. Parliament can undo Cabinet decisions through a

vote of no confidence A motion of no confidence, also variously called a vote of no confidence, no-confidence motion, motion of confidence, or vote of confidence, is a statement or vote about whether a person in a position of responsibility like in government or mana ...

, triggering a new election. The current Cabinet consists of the following Ministers: The first nine ministers sworn in on 2 July 2020 at the State House in Bairiki (

South Tarawa South Tarawa ( gil, Tarawa Teinainano) is the capital and hub of the Republic of Kiribati and home to more than half of Kiribati's population. The South Tarawa population centre consists of all the small islets from Betio in the west to Bonri ...

) and include Dr Teuea Toatu, Willie Tokataake, Ruateki Tekaiara, Ribanataake Awira, Dr Tinte Itinteang, Boutu Bateriki, Booti Nauan, Martin Moreti and Taabeta Teakaiao. The remaining four ministers who are stranded in the outer islands, at their respective island, which include Alexander Teabo, Tarakabu Martin, Tekeeua Tarati and Mikarite Temari, have been sworn later.

Attorneys-General of Kiribati

Kiribati Kiribati (), officially the Republic of Kiribati ( gil, ibaberikiKiribati),Kiribati
''The Wor ...

, the Attorney-General is defined by section 42 of the Constitution as "the principal legal adviser to the Government." The Constitution specifies: "No person shall be qualified to hold or to act in the office of Attorney-General unless he is qualified to practise in Kiribati as an advocate in the High Court." The Attorney-General of Kiribati was also until October 2016 a member of Cabinet of Kiribati and a member of the

Maneaba ni Maungatabu The House of Assembly (, ) is the Legislature of Kiribati. Since 2016, it has 45 members, 44 elected for a four-year term in 23 single-seat and multi-seat constituencies and 1 non-elected delegate from the Banaban community on Rabi Island in Fi ...

as an ex-officio member of parliament. According to a 2005 source, the Attorney-General "is designated by the Republic of Kiribati as the Central Authority who shall have the responsibility and power to receive requests for mutual legal assistance."

Legislative branch

In a Westminster system, the unicameral

House of Assembly House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral parliament. In some countries this may be at a subnational level. Historically, in British Crown colonies as the colony gained more internal responsible gove ...

(''Maneaba ni Maungatabu'') has 45 members: 44 elected in single-seat and multi-seat

constituencies An electoral district, also known as an election district, legislative district, voting district, constituency, riding, ward, division, or (election) precinct is a subdivision of a larger state (a country, administrative region, or other polity ...

; one appointed member from the Banaban community on

Rabi Island Rabi (pronounced ) is a volcanic island in northern Fiji. It is an outlier to Taveuni (5 kilometers west), in the Vanua Levu Group. It covers an area of 66.3 square kilometers, reaching a maximum altitude of 463 meters and has a shoreline of 46. ...

in Fiji. The Attorney general was an ''ex officio'' member until 2016. The elected members of the Maneaba ni Maungatabu serve four-year terms. The Speaker of the Maneaba ni Maungatabu is elected by the members of the Maneaba from outside of its membership. All citizens of Kiribati are eligible to vote at the age of 18.

Judiciary

The Chapter VI of the Constitution of 1979 describes the

. The judicial system consists of magistrates' courts, the High Court and the

Kiribati Court of Appeal The Kiribati Court of Appeal is the supreme court of Kiribati established according to the Constitution of Kiribati of 12 July 1979 (section 90). The Court sits in Betio, South Tarawa. Sometimes the superior court of Kiribati is also considered t ...

. The Beretitenti (President), acting in accordance with the advice of the Public Service Commission, makes all judicial appointments, and amongst them, the Chief Justice, the main judge of the High Court. The High Court is in

Betio Betio is the largest township of Kiribati's capital city, South Tarawa, and the country's main port. The settlement is located on a separate islet at the extreme southwest of the atoll. Betio Post Office opened on 5 April 1957 and closed in 1964 ...

. Sir

was the Chief Justice of Kiribati until his replacement by Bill Hastings in August 2021, after a 8 months vacancy. On 30 June 2022, Hastings was abruptly suspended from his office during the 2022 Kiribati constitutional crisis. The

Judicial Committee of the Privy Council The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is the highest court of appeal for the Crown Dependencies, the British Overseas Territories, some Commonwealth countries and a few institutions in the United Kingdom. Established on 14 Aug ...

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

has jurisdiction only if a case involves constitutional rights. Appeals are taken directly to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council itself. The

Court of Appeal of Kiribati The Kiribati Court of Appeal is the supreme court of Kiribati established according to the Constitution of Kiribati of 12 July 1979 (section 90). The Court sits in Betio, South Tarawa. Sometimes the superior court of Kiribati is also considered ...

is otherwise the supreme court in Kiribati.

The People's Lawyer of Kiribati

The People's Lawyer of Kiribati represents disadvantaged residents and those who are unable to access legal representation. Accordingly, the office represents clients in "Land, Civil and Criminal Matters and act for them in the Magistrates and High Court as well as the Court of Appeal." The position had long been filled by expatriate lawyers who were volunteering from either Australia or New Zealand with the "role...funded by the Australian Government through heAustralian Volunteers International." In 2015, the role of The People's Lawyer changed in that it was now filled by a Kiribati citizen: Raweita Beniata (male lawyer; 2015- ).

Political conditions

Political parties have existed since 1965 but are more similar to informal coalitions in behaviour. They do not have official platforms or party structures. Most candidates formally present themselves as independents, then they joined one party at the first meeting of the House. The website of the House of Assembly explains that in this way:"Political parties"
, House of Assembly of Kiribati :''"There erefour political parties in Kiribati, Boutokaan Te Koaua (BTK), Maurin Kiribati Party (MKP),

Maneaban Te Mauri Party Protect the Maneaba ( gil, Maneaban te Mauri) is a political party in Kiribati created by the merger of the National Progressive Party and the Christian Democratic Party. At the last presidential elections of July 4, 2003, its candidate Harry Tong ...

(MMP) and

Kiribati Tabomoa Party The National Progressive Party (NPP, GNPP in some sources) also known as the Kiribati Tabomoa Party, was a political party, first of the Gilbert Islands, then in Kiribati when it became the majority party in 1978, defeating the Gilbertese National ...

. The parties are loose groupings rather than disciplined blocks, with little or no structure. Members may change allegiance on a number of occasions during their tenure. It is also common for members to vote according to the special interests of their electorate on certain issues."''

("National Progressive Party") and

Christian Democratic Party __NOTOC__ Christian democratic parties are political parties that seek to apply Christian principles to public policy. The underlying Christian democracy movement emerged in 19th-century Europe, largely under the influence of Catholic social tea ...

merged into

Maneaban Te Mauri Protect the Maneaba ( gil, Maneaban te Mauri) is a political party in Kiribati created by the merger of the National Progressive Party and the Christian Democratic Party. At the last presidential elections of July 4, 2003, its candidate Harry Tong ...

(MMP, "

Protect the Maneaba Protect the Maneaba ( gil, Maneaban te Mauri) is a political party in Kiribati created by the merger of the National Progressive Party and the Christian Democratic Party. At the last presidential elections of July 4, 2003, its candidate Harry Tong ...

") in 2003, which later merged with Kiribati Independent Party into Karikirakean Te I-Kiribati (KTK, " United Coalition Party") in 2010, which later merged with Maurin Kiribati Party (MKP) to form Tobwaan Kiribati Party (TKP), the only one facing '' Boutokaan Te Koaua'' (BTK, "

Pillars of Truth Pillars of Truth ( gil, Boutokaan te Koaua; BK or BTK) was a political party in Kiribati, until 2020 when it merged with the Kiribati First Party to create the Boutokaan Kiribati Moa Party. The party was created through a split in the Nati ...

"). A major source of conflict has been the protracted bid by the residents of

Banaba Island BanabaThe correct spelling and etymology in Gilbertese should be ''Bwanaba'' but the Constitution of Kiribati writes Banaba. Because of the spelling in English or French, the name was very often written Paanapa or Paanopa, as it was in 1901 A ...

to secede and have their island placed under the protection of Fiji. The government's attempts to placate the

Banabans The Micronesians or Micronesian peoples are various closely related ethnic groups native to Micronesia, a region of Oceania in the Pacific Ocean. They are a part of the Austronesian ethnolinguistic group, which has an Urheimat in Taiwan. Ethno ...

include several special provisions in the constitution, such as the designation of a Banaban seat in the legislature and the return of land previously acquired by the government for phosphate mining.

Political parties and elections

There is no solid tradition of formally organized political parties in Kiribati, even if the 2 first political parties were founded in 1965; they more closely resemble factions or interest groups with no formal platforms: * BKM = Boutokaan Kiribati Moa Party, former BTK = Boutokaan te Koaua (Pillars of Truth, split from NPP), merged with KM, in May 2020; * TKP = Tobwaan Kiribati Party (Embracing Kiribati Party, BTK opposition, merger of KTK and Maurin Kiribati, est. 19 Jan 2016); * Former parties: ** CDP = Maneabau te Mauri (Christian Democratic Party, 1965–1994, merged into MTM); ** GNP =

Gilbertese National Party The Gilbertese National Party (GNP) was a political party in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony founded in 1965. It was the first ever party in this British colony. History Racial tensions between Gilbertese and Ellice Islanders became m ...

(supported Gilbert Islands’ separation from

Ellice Islands Tuvalu ( or ; formerly known as the Ellice Islands) is an island country and microstate in the Polynesian subregion of Oceania in the Pacific Ocean. Its islands are situated about midway between Hawaii and Australia. They lie east-nor ...

, est. 16 Oct 1965); ** KM = Kiribati Moa (Kiribati First, split from TKP, est. Nov 2019) then merged with BTK in May 2020; ** KTK = Karikirakean Tei I-Kiribati (United Coalition Party, 2010–2016, merged into TKP); ** MTM =

Maneaban te Mauri Protect the Maneaba ( gil, Maneaban te Mauri) is a political party in Kiribati created by the merger of the National Progressive Party and the Christian Democratic Party. At the last presidential elections of July 4, 2003, its candidate Harry Tong ...

(Protect the Maneaba, Christian-democratic, conservative, merger of CDP and NPP, 2010 merged into KTK); ** NPP = National Progressive Party (merged into MTM)

2020 presidential
election An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has opera ...

2016 presidential
election An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has opera ...

2015-16 legislative
election An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has opera ...

References

External links

Politics of Kiribati as of 2007
a brief overview on the official website of the

Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations, simply referred to as the Commonwealth, is a political association of 56 member states, the vast majority of which are former territories of the British Empire. The chief institutions of the organisation are the ...

{{KiribatiPresidents