Palau

House of Delegates Senate

Senate

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
19 Jan 2017
Timing of election
Upon normal expiry
Number of seats at stake
16
Scope of elections
Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election
Not applicable
Not applicable. There is no party system or candidates stood as independents.
Yes
Total number of candidates
33
Number of male candidates
27
Number of female candidates
6
Percentage of women candidates
18.2%

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
Alternation of power after elections
No
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%
Women Directly Elected
2
Other notes on the elections

Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 19 January. On the day when newly elected members are sworn in.

Date of the first session of the new parliament: 19 January. The 3rd Thursday of January

Sources

House of Delegates (21.11.2016)

Election Commission

Pacific Islands Report

Pacific Note

New legislature

Total number of men after the election
14
Total number of women after the election
2
Percentage of women after the election
12.5%
First-term parliamentarians
No information available
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
No information available
Date of the first session
19 Jan 2017

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
Sabino Anastacio (Male)
Date of birth: 13 Apr 1953
Date of election
19 Jan 2017

Historical data for IPU membership

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Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No