The presidential election in Kiribati, also known as the beretitenti vote, is scheduled for October 25. Notices about the election were issued by electoral districts across the nation on Friday.
There are currently three candidates in the running, all from the ruling Tobwaan Kiribati Party (TKP), following the removal of one candidate, Riteta Iorome, although no reason has been provided for his exclusion from the ballot.
The candidates still competing include the incumbent beretitenti, Taneti Maamau, who has served for the past eight years, as well as Bauntaake Beia and Kaotitaake Kokoria.
The TKP’s majority has prevented opposition candidates from participating, leading former opposition leader Tessie Lambourne to claim that citizens are being denied their right to choose their beretitenti. She expressed concerns that Kiribati is increasingly resembling a one-party state and criticized the deteriorating state of basic services in the country.
In line with new regulations for this election, candidates are required to submit a copy of their manifesto to the Electoral Commission, with these documents expected to be published in the Government Gazette by Monday. A constitutional change mandates that the winning candidate will be held accountable to the commitments outlined in their manifesto for the duration of their four-year term.
In response to the lack of participation rights, the opposition is considering a boycott of the upcoming nationwide election.