18 Jan 2016

Kiribati presidential election tipped for March

6:28 am on 18 January 2016

Election officials in Kiribati say an election to choose the next president is likely to be held in early March.

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Photo: RNZ

The country has had two rounds of voting to elect a new 44-member parliament, which will sit for the first time on February the 5th.

A spokesperson for the Electoral Commission says candidates now have to put themselves forward for the election of president, which will be decided in a single round of voting.

The spokesperson says the commission hopes to submit information to the Chief Justice some time this week, and they will make the final decision on the election date.

The former president, Anote Tong, is bowing out of politics after he served his maximum three terms.