Nauru elections fair, transparent: observer

Nauruan President Baron Waqa will return to parliament following a national election deemed fair and transparent by international observers.

The election saw 67 candidates vie for support from 8,000 registered voters for the 19-seat single chamber parliament that was held over the weekend, however, a legal technicality delayed voting in once constituency until Monday.

Though it was the first general election to be held by the newly established Nauru Electoral Commission, international observers led by former Kiribati President Anote Tong said it surpassed expectations.

"The elections were very fair, very transparent and quite professionally done," Tong told global news agency Reuters on Monday, though admitted he had initial concerns given internal political conflicts and international concerns of a faltering rule of law.

"I think this election represents an opportunity for a fresh start for the nation."

The government of Nauru said they won't be making a statement on the election's outcome until Tuesday once the exact makeup of the parliament is known, though it's widely tipped the status quo will remain.

President Baron Waqa will return to parliament, along with controversial Finance and Justice Minister David Adeang who was allegedly bribed by an Australian mining firm for lucrative contracts in 2009 and 2010. It is alleged those bribes were then used to pay-off other Nauruan MPs to ouster then President Marcus Stephen in 2010.

Stephen, opposition MP and former president Sprent Dabwido, suspended opposition MP Matthew Batsiua and the Speaker of the House Ludwig Scotty have all lost their respective races, Nauru's official social media account said.

Tong will deliver his final report on the election by July 13.

Nauru lies 3000 kilometres northeast of Australia. Endit