Political system
Short for NA by Abbreviationfinder, Nauru is a republic with a parliamentary regime. The elected parliament elects from among its members the country’s president, who is at the same time the head of government and himself appoints other ministers from the parliamentarians. Domestic politics is largely about a power struggle between the island chiefs. All choices are personal choices, no real parties exist.
Parliament has 19 members (since the 2013 elections, before that they were 18) elected in general elections every three years. There is a duty to vote for citizens (Naurus only) over 20 years.
- Countryaah: Total population and chart of Nauru for years of 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Also covers population density, birth rate, death rate and population growth rates.
Since the mid-1990s, the country has had on average two governments a year. The constant change of government is usually preceded by a vote of no confidence in Parliament. Because there are no parties, it is easy for members to switch sides, from government to opposition. Discussions have been made about changing the constitution, which is from independence in 1968, to stabilize politics. But when the country’s first referendum was held in February 2010, voters voted by a broad margin down a draft constitutional amendment that would have meant, among other things, that the president was directly elected by the people.
Nauru is divided into 14 districts. There is no official capital, but parliament and government are based in the district of Yaren.
The judiciary is independent. In addition to the state judicial system, many disputes are traditionally resolved through mediation. This applies in particular to inheritance rights and the right to land. The death penalty has been abolished.
Together with Australia, Nauru has received criticism from, among others, the UN and Amnesty International for the fact that hundreds of asylum seekers in an Australian detention camp in Nauru are living in poor conditions, such as severe congestion in hot climates with poor hygienic conditions. Amnesty has also criticized the long processing times. There are also reports of repeated physical and sexual abuse of the refugees.
In spring 2018, Nauru abolished Australia’s highest court as the last court of appeal. It was replaced in December of that year by the Naurus Court of Appeal. The country received international criticism for the change taking place before a new Nauri Supreme Court was in operation. Assessors warned that the amendment could weaken the legal security of asylum-seeking refugees.
