The presidential election in Kiribati, also known as the beretitenti vote, is scheduled for October 25. Notices announcing the election date were published by electoral districts across the nation on Friday.
Currently, there are three candidates competing, all representing the ruling Tobwaan Kiribati Party (TKP). One candidate, Riteta Iorome, has been removed from the ballot without any public explanation. The remaining candidates include the incumbent beretitenti, Taneti Maamau, who has held the position for eight years, along with Bauntaake Beia and Kaotitaake Kokoria.
The TKP has leveraged its majority to prevent any opposition candidates from running, prompting former opposition leader Tessie Lambourne to assert that the electorate is being deprived of their right to choose a beretitenti. She expressed concerns that Kiribati may be transitioning into a one-party state amid deteriorating basic services in the country.
New electoral legislation mandates that all candidates submit a copy of their manifesto to the Electoral Commission, with these manifestos to be published in the Government Gazette by Monday. Additionally, under recent constitutional changes, the winning candidate will be held accountable to their manifesto commitments by the Electoral Commission for the duration of their four-year term.
In light of these developments, the opposition is considering a boycott of the upcoming nationwide election due to their candidates being barred from participating.