Ruth Cross Kwansing Photo: Screeengrab / Ruth M. Cross KOM - Technical Expert in Kiribati
While MPs in Kiribati are debating who to support for the presidential election, one of the 17 newcomers in the incoming parliament has come out emphatically in support of the incumbent Taneti Maamau.
Ruth Cross Kwansing, who won one of the three seats in the capital constituency of TUC, or Tarawa Teinainano, said on her official Facebook page that her Christian faith guided her to the Tobwaan Kiribati Party (TKP) headed by Maamau.
She wrote it is her hope that TUC and the rest of Kiribati will form a strong united government to uphold and defend Kiribati's sovereignty, and work with the international community in the country's best interests.
The MP also reiterated her plan to be in parliament for only one term.
"In the past week, I faced a challenging decision to determine which party to join," she wrote.
"I met with each party to analyse the way forward in the best interests of our beloved TUC and Kiribati as a whole, as was my promise and commitment to you during the campaign period.
"Praise to our almighty God, I was grateful to receive personal revelation during my meeting with Maamau. My heart filled with joy to know that it was my calling to strengthen the collective vision for our beloved country of Kiribati, and to join my efforts with Tobwaan Kiribati Party in order to help me serve you better."
The new Kiribati parliament, Maneaba ni Maungatabu, is set to meet for the first time on 13 September.
At this meeting, the first item is the election of the Speaker, who is typically someone who was not elected to parliament.
After that, parties will begin to promote their candidates for president, for which three people are usually nominated.
A popular election will then proceed in October.
RNZ Pacific's correspondent in Kiribati, Rimon Rimon, said "everything's going to go back to the people".
"It's really, I should say, an open game right now. We can't really say for certain. Of course, the cards may be in his favour, but, we can't pre-empt what the people want," he said.