29 Jan 2016

Kiribati party merger ahead of presidential poll

1:50 pm on 29 January 2016

Two political parties in Kiribati have merged to form the Tobwaan Kiribati Party.

Karikirakean Te I-Kiribati, which is led by a former president Teburoro Tito, and Maurin Kiribati have formed a coalition ahead of next Friday's parliamentary meeting, the first since the election.

The new party is to meet soon to nominate a candidate for the presidential election, which is expected to be held in early March.

Voters will have to choose a successor to Anote Tong who has served the maximum three terms allowed.

In the two rounds to elect a new parliament, 22 of the 44 seats were filled with newcomers.