Tong’s son misses out

TARAWA – Maiana Island in Kiribati, the home island of outgoing president Anote Tong, will go to a second round of voting this week after none of the candidates got 50 per cent of the vote in last week’s initial general election.

One of those to miss out is Tong’s son, Vincent, who managed just 224 votes, finishing fifth among the candidates and not qualifying for the second round.

Voters in Kiribati go to the polls this week in the second round of the election process to choose a 44-member parliament.

Among other candidates who failed to win an outright majority in last week’s first round is a former president, Teburoro Tito, who is running in South Tarawa against Maere Tekanene. Another former president, Teatao Teannaki, is standing in the run-off for a remaining seat on Abaiang.

Also eliminated in the first round was a government minister, Tom Murdoch. - RNZI