Nauru political
deadlock ends
WELLINGTON, New
Zealand (AP) - The government has won a majority in a snap election
held in the tiny Pacific island country of Nauru, ending a five-month
political deadlock over the budget, a government spokesman said
Tuesday.
Twelve of the
18 members of the new Parliament took up seats on the government
side when the house met Tuesday for the first time since elections
last weekend, spokesman Rod Henshaw said in a statement.
Three new lawmakers
were elected in Saturday's vote, and all joined the government.
The result ended a 9-9 voting deadlock that prevented the passing
of essential budget bills and held up investment projects in
the once prosperous island.
The government
earlier had claimed victory, but electoral officials had not
confirmed the results.
President Marcus
Stephen declared a state of emergency and dissolved parliament
on April 18, saying parliamentary elections were urgently needed
to end a stalemate between government and opposition lawmakers.
"I thank
my colleagues for the confidence they have bestowed upon me,"
Stephen told Parliament Tuesday.
Stephen, who
also heads the government, said he was looking forward to proceeding
with business which had been held up for five months by bickering
between the government and opposition. No timetable was set.
Nauru's population
of about 12,500 had one of the world's highest per capita incomes
25 years ago when it was a major supplier of phosphates used
mainly in fertilizers. But the country's fortunes dwindled as
its phosphate reserves ran out.
The country recently
resumed exporting phosphate, but inhabitants rely heavily on
fishing and domestic gardens for sustenance and incomes.
Nauru - just
8 square miles - is about halfway between Australia and Hawaii.
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