Nauru still trying to form a govt

Robert Matau




AS THIS EDITION WENT TO press two things remain unchanged in Nauru. Marcus Stephen is still caretaker president and Nauru still have yet to form a government.
Now all eyes are on Milton Dube and a splinter group in Nauru’s Opposition benches.
As an independent and the only new inclusion following Nauru’s second election this year—Dube holds the balance of power in the 18-member parliament.
At present there are nine members on the government side while the so-called Opposition has a mixture of six like minded MPs in one group and two in another with Dube being the independent.
When this edition went to press, government was holding discussions with Dube and other members of the Opposition to try and form a clear majority in the interest of breaking the deadlock.
In a normal situation, the government would have most of the bargaining chips but in Nauru things tend to be done differently.
For the second time in eight weeks the uncertainty of having equal numbers on both sides of parliament has plunged the nation into uncertainty.
After a poll in April, Parliament had met 14 times but still failed to form a government, prompting the latest election.
Caretaker President Marcus Stephen said: “I am determined to have this situation resolved as soon as possible.
“The new member, Dube has two clear options, he said.
“Either he joins us to keep the country moving forward, or he sides with the Opposition and creates another stalemate.”
Weeks before the elections Stephen told ISLANDS BUSINESS that he felt he had done enough to take the nation forward but “the people should always decide their future or fate”.
But two elections in one year is no easy feat nor is it a cheap exercise.
As this edition went to press, parliament was still trying to get the numbers before an announcement could be made.
Stephen confirmed on June 24, however, that an effective government was still operating in spite of the ongoing stalemate in Parliament.
However, the president also expressed concern that some members of Parliament appeared to be confused about the fact that his government still holds office under the constitution.
“Under Article 16(4), it says the President holds office until the election of another person as President and under Article 20, all my cabinet members also remain ministers until a new President is elected.”
He said the confusion could have come about “because this has been an unusually long caretaker period, but the law is clear.
“Even in caretaker mode, the government remains in power until Parliament is able to form a new government, and Parliament has not been able to do anything for months because of the ongoing stalemate.”