Kiribati
Republic in the W central Pacific Ocean, comprising three groups of
coral atolls: the 16 Gilbert Islands, 8 uninhabited Phoenix Islands,
8 of the 11 Line Islands, and the volcanic island of Banaba.
Government
Kiribati's 1979 constitution provides for a president, the Beretitenti,
who is head of both state and government, and is elected by universal
suffrage for a four-year term, and a single- chamber legislature,
the Maneaba ni Maungatabu. The president may not serve more than
three terms. The Maneaba has 39 popularly elected members and
one appointed member, representing the island of Banaba, plus
the attorney general by virtue of office. It also serves a four-
year term. The president governs with the help of a vice president
and cabinet chosen from and responsible to the Maneaba. Traditionally,
all candidates for the Maneaba have fought as independents, but
since the mid-1980s an embryonic party system has emerged. After
each general election, the Maneaba nominates from among its members
three or four presidential candidates, who then stand in a national
contest.
History
The first Europeans to visit the area were the Spanish 1606. The 16
predominantly Micronesian-peopled Gilbert Islands and 9 predominantly
Melanesian-peopled Ellice Islands became a British protectorate
1892, and then the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony (GEIC) 1916.
The colony was occupied by Japan 1942-43 and was the scene of
fierce fighting between Japanese and US forces.
In preparation for self-government, a legislative council was
set up 1963, and in 1972 a governor took over from the British
high commissioner. In 1974 the legislative council was replaced
by an elected house of assembly, and in 1975, when the Ellice
Islands separated and became Tuvalu, the GEIC was renamed the
Gilbert Islands. The islands achieved internal self-government
1977 and full independence within the Commonwealth 1979, under
the name of Kiribati, with Ieremia Tabai as their first president.
Tabai was re-elected 1982, 1983, and 1987. In 1985 Kiribati's
first political party, the opposition Christian Democrats, was
formed. Tabai was re-elected in the general election May 1991,
but was constitutionally prohibited from serving a further term
in office and gave his backing to Vice President Teatao Teannaki
in the contested presidential election in July. In May 1994 the
government was defeated on a vote of confidence and resigned.
Teannaki's ruling National Progressive Party was decisively defeated
in the July 1994 general election, ending a 15-year-period in
power, and the assembly chose Teburoro Tito as president.
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