Palau

House of Delegates Senate

House of Delegates

Political system: Presidential system
Structure of parliament: Bicameral
IPU membership: Yes

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.

Background

Election date(s): 01 Nov 2016
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: No information available
Timing of election: No information available
Number of seats at stake: No information available
Scope of elections: No information available

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election: Not applicable
Not applicable. There is no party system or candidates stood as independents.: Yes

Voter turnout

Registered voters: 15,890

Results

About the election: The elections returned 13 incumbents to the 16-member House of Delegates and 8 to the 13-member Senate (see note). Two women were elected to the House of Delegates, for the first time since 1981 (prior to the country's independence in 1994). Two of the three outgoing women senators were re-elected. 25-year-old Aric Nakamura, the son of former President Kuniwo Nakamura, became the youngest person to be elected to the Senate.

With no political parties in Palau, there was no nation-wide election campaigning. Presidential candidates focused on the economy and measures to boost tourism. President Tommy Remengesau defeated his brother-in-law, Senator Surangel Whipps Jr., to win a fourth term.

Note on the number of senators:

The Reapportionment Commission publishes every eight years a redistricting plan for the Senate, which becomes law upon publication. On 27 June 2016, the Reapportionment Commission published its Reapportionment Plan, stating that there would be 13 senators and one senatorial district, i.e., the same as the outgoing Senate. A group of citizens petitioned the Supreme Court to review the Commission's decision, on the grounds that the population decreased by around 12% since 2005. On 1 September, the Court ruled that the number of senators should be reduced from 13 to 11, to be elected from one district. However, on 17 October, the Supreme Court reversed its judgment on appeal and upheld the decision of the Reapportionment Commission. Consequently, the new legislature contains 13 senators, as before.
Percentage of parties winning seats: Not applicable
Number of parties in government: Not applicable

Members elected, by sex

Number of men elected: 14
Number of women elected: 2
Percentage of women elected: 12.5%

New legislature

First-term parliamentarians: No information available
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians: No information available
Date of the first session: 19 Jan 2017