The second round of elections on August 19 will shape the formation of the new government. Photo: The Kiribati Newsroom / Rimon Rimon
Voters in Kiribati will cast their ballots on Monday in the second round of the Micronesian nation's 2024 national elections.
Polls opened at 7am for almost 53,000 eligible voters to elect 19 candidates, after 25 MPs confirmed their seats in the 45-seat Maneaba ni Maungatabu (Parliament) following the first round on 14 August.
Incumbent president and leader of the Tobwaan Kiribati Party (TKP) Taneti Maamau retained his seat in his home island, in Onotoa.
Tight race for urban seats in Kiribati election
The opposition leader Tessie Lambourne, the leader of the Boutokaan Kiribati Moa (BKM) party, also retained her seat in Abemama.
The polls will close at 6pm today and results are expected to be released on Tuesday morning.
Te Uekera newspaper (Broadcasting and Publications Authority) editor Ueretan Bauro told RNZ Pacific that the first-round winners are declared if they received 50 percent of votes from those who cast their votes in their continue.
Three out of the 25 MPs elected so far are women, according to Kiribati journalist and The Kiribati Newsroom moderator, Rimon Rimon.
"Polling commenced early on election day, followed by a lengthy wait for results that stretched into the following two days. Announcements for 22 electorates were made by the first night and into the next day, with the final result from the largest electorate, South Tarawa, taking the longest to declare.
He said of the elected representatives, 17 are returning parliamentarians, including 11 other MPs from Maamau's TKP.
Rimon said three are members of the former opposition party, Kamanoan Kiribati Party KKP, including Lambourne; two are independents; and eight are newly elected MPs.
"While TKP currently leads with 12 re-elected members, it is still too early to determine which party will secure a majority.
"Twelve electorates are awaiting the second round of elections, with the final outcome dependent on new MPs and their political allegiances," he added.
Election results after the first round of voting
Round one election results. 17 August 2024 Photo: Facebook / Office of Te Beretitenti