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)
03 Nov 2020
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
No information available
Timing of election
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections
05 Nov 2024
Number of seats at stake
No information available
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
27
Number of male candidates
25
Number of female candidates
2
Percentage of women candidates
7.4%

Voter turnout

Registered voters
16,754
Voters
10,204
Voter turnout
60.9%

Results

About the election

Most incumbents were re-elected to the 16-member House of Delegates, while only 7 were re-elected to the 13-member Senate. One woman was re-elected to the House of Delegates and another woman was elected to the Senate. In the presidential elections, held in parallel with the parliamentary elections, Senator Surangel Whipps Jr. defeated Vice President Raymond Oilouch. Senator Jerrlyn Uduch Sengebau Sr. was elected as Vice President, thereby becoming the second woman in Palau to assume the post.

With no political parties in Palau, there was no nationwide election campaigning. Although Palau had registered only one COVID-19 case before the 2020 elections, the country’s tourism sector – which generates about 80 per cent of the nation’s total GDP and employs over 75 per cent of the workforce – was severely affected by the global pandemic.

On 21 January 2021, Mr. Surangel Whipps Jr. was sworn in as the new President, succeeding his brother-in-law Tommy Remengesau Jr., who was stepping down after serving two four-year terms. The new President promised to revive the country’s tourism-dependent economy and deal with climate change together with large countries by reminding them that “the threat is real”. He also pledged to continue formal recognition of, and close relations with, Taiwan.

Percentage of parties winning seats
Not applicable
Alternation of power after elections
Yes
Number of parties in government
Not applicable
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
12
Number of women elected
1
Percentage of women elected
7.7%
Women Directly Elected
1
Other notes on the elections

Note on the expected date of next elections: The first Tuesday of November every four years;

Note on the date of the first session of the new parliament: The third Thursday of January after each general election.

Sources

National Congress (24.11.2020)

Palau Election Commission (30.06.2021)

Senate (27.01.2021);

https://palauelection.org/AFP

www.palaugov.pw;

https://islandtimes.org;

https://www.pacificislandtimes.com;

http://www.pina.com.fj;

https://www.rnz.co.nz/

New legislature

Total number of men after the election
12
Total number of women after the election
1
Percentage of women after the election
7.7%
First-term parliamentarians
4
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
30.8%
Date of the first session
21 Jan 2021

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
Hokkons Baules (Male)
Date of birth: 07 Jun 1948
Date of election
21 Jan 2021

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