Yearbook 2008
Marshall Islands. According to
Countryaah reports, the recalculation of some of the votes
in the regular parliamentary elections in November 2007
meant that the results of the elections did not become clear
until 2008. When the re-election was carried out on 5
January, the ruling United Democratic Party (UDP) became the
largest party with 15 seats, compared with 14 for the All
Islands election alliance. Party (OIP) and United People's
Party (UP).
But after all, it was the opposition that formed the
government. On January 7, 2008, the new parliament elected
former President Litokwa Tomeing as new president. Of the 33
MEPs, 18 voted for Tomeing and 15 for the incumbent
President Kessai Note. Tomeing is one of the country's
traditional chieftains and had left the UDP for the
opposition party UP shortly before the election. On January
10, Tomeing presented his government, which included a
female minister for the first time in twelve years.
The day after, the president confirmed that diplomatic
relations with Taiwan would continue, despite saying during
the election campaign that he intended to start relations
with China instead. Taiwan is the Marshall Islands' largest
aid provider after the United States, and Taiwan's president
had offered Tomeing funding to launch the state airline Air
Marshall Islands, which for financial reasons had to suspend
its flights since October 2007. At the end of April, the
flights could take off again.
In February, the president appointed a commission to
review the chaotic election in 2007. Tomeing said, the
purpose was to investigate what went wrong to avoid future
problems and to restore voter confidence.
On July 3, the government announced a financial emergency
because it was unable to cope with the increased oil prices,
which affected electricity and transport costs as well as
food prices. Despite three electricity price increases since
January, the state's energy resources would not last longer
than until August of the same year. The purpose of the state
of emergency was to seek assistance from the United States,
Taiwan and other donors, but also to try to reduce the
country's energy use.
At least 600 people were forced to flee their homes by
the end of December due to floods caused by storms and high
waves. The cities of Majuro and Ebeye were submerged. A
state of emergency was declared.
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