David Adeang facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable David Adeang MP
Adeang in 2012
President of Nauru
Incumbent
Assumed office 30 October 2023
Deputy	Lionel Aingimea
Preceded by	Russ Kun
Member of Parliament for Ubenide
Incumbent
Assumed office 18 December 2001
Preceded by	Joseph Hiram
Speaker of the Parliament of Nauru
In office May 2004 – June 2004
Preceded by	Terangi Adam
Succeeded by	Riddell Akua
In office 20 March 2008 – 18 April 2008
Preceded by	Riddell Akua
Succeeded by	Riddell Akua
Personal details
Born	David Ranibok Waiau Adeang (1969-11-24) 24 November 1969 (age 55) Yaren District, Nauru
Political party	Independent
Other political affiliations	Nauru First (2000s)
Relations	Kennan Adeang (father)
Occupation	Public servant

David Ranibok Waiau Adeang, born on November 24, 1969, is a politician from Nauru. He is currently the President of Nauru. Before becoming President, he served as the Speaker of the Parliament of Nauru. He was also Nauru's Minister of Finance and Justice, and the Minister Assisting the President of Nauru.

Early Life and Political Start

David Adeang's father, Kennan Adeang, was also a President of Nauru three times. David Adeang started his career as a lawyer. He became a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ubenide area in December 2001. He won his seat in a special election.

In May 2003, during a time of political and economic changes, David Adeang's party, Naoero Amo, won three seats in the parliament. His party then joined with Ludwig Scotty and his supporters. Scotty became president, and Adeang was made the Minister of Finance in May 2003. He also served as the Minister Assisting the President of Nauru. However, this government lasted only three months.

In April 2004, David Adeang was involved in a protest at Nauru's airport. He served as the Speaker of the Parliament of Nauru from May to June 2004. In June 2004, David Adeang and his party helped re-elect Ludwig Scotty as president. Adeang then became the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Justice. It was notable because he was the first Foreign Minister who was not also the President of Nauru since Nauru became independent in 1968. He was easily re-elected to Parliament in October 2004. Later that month, he became the Minister of Finance again, while also remaining the Foreign Minister.

He was one of the people who started the Nauru First party. For a while, this was the only political party in Nauru.

Important Events in 2007

David Adeang was re-elected easily in the August 2007 election. He received the most votes in his area, Ubenide.

Views on Other Countries

In September 2007, as Foreign Minister, David Adeang visited Cuba. During his visit, he spoke positively about Cuba and shared his thoughts on the foreign policy of the United States.

Political Changes and New Government

In November 2007, some members of the government resigned. This led to a vote to remove President Scotty's government. Although most people voted to remove him, it was not enough votes at that time. However, another vote in December was successful, and Marcus Stephen became the new president. Kieren Keke took over from Adeang as Foreign Minister.

Political Developments in 2008

Working with Former President Harris

In March 2008, David Adeang worked with former President Rene Harris to try and remove President Marcus Stephen. However, this attempt was stopped when the Speaker of the Parliament resigned. It was interesting because Adeang had often criticized Harris's past government.

Becoming Parliamentary Speaker

Soon after, in March 2008, David Adeang became the Speaker of the Parliament of Nauru. He started this role on March 20, 2008.

On March 22, Adeang called a meeting of Parliament. Some government ministers said they were not told about the meeting and did not attend. The MPs who were against the government, including Adeang, were the majority of those present. They passed a rule that said Members of Parliament could not have dual citizenship. If this rule was applied, it would affect important government ministers. The government said this rule was not valid because not enough MPs were present for the meeting to be official. President Marcus Stephen said Adeang and the opposition passed the rule "after dark on Easter Saturday." Adeang, however, insisted the meeting was valid.

Claims of a Government Takeover

On March 28, Adeang, as Speaker, told two government ministers to leave their seats in Parliament. They refused, and Adeang stopped the meeting.

On March 31, Adeang claimed that the government had taken over because the police did not remove the two ministers from Parliament as he had ordered. The government denied this, saying they were waiting for a decision from the Supreme Court.

The situation continued into April 2008. Adeang said he would see the Supreme Court's decision as "just an opinion." However, Minister Keke said that the Supreme Court, not the Speaker, had the power to decide if an MP was allowed to be in Parliament.

Adeang Questions Court Ruling

On April 7, the government announced that the Supreme Court had ruled in their favor. The court said the law against dual nationality for MPs was not valid because not enough MPs were present when it was passed. The court also said that it had the power to make decisions about Parliament. Adeang said he would get legal advice before responding to the court's decision.

The relationship between Adeang, as Speaker, and President Stephen's government remained difficult.

On April 10, after some disagreements in Parliament, Adeang, as Speaker, suspended President Marcus Stephen and all the MPs who supported him from Parliament. On April 18, President Stephen declared a state of emergency, closed Parliament, and announced new elections. He said he was trying to find a way to solve the problems between the government and Parliament. This was a step Adeang had been suggesting for several weeks.

New Speaker Appointed

After the elections on April 26, 2008, President Marcus Stephen gained more support. David Adeang was replaced as Speaker of the Parliament of Nauru by Riddell Akua, who had also been Speaker before him.

Loss of a Political Partner

In July 2008, former President Rene Harris passed away. David Adeang lost an important political partner with whom he had worked closely earlier that year.

Political Developments in 2013

Joining the Waqa Cabinet

After the 2013 elections, where he was re-elected, David Adeang supported Baron Waqa to become President. President Waqa then appointed Adeang to his cabinet. Adeang was given important roles, including Minister of Finance and Sustainable Development, Minister of Justice, and responsibility for the Eigigu Holdings Corporation and the Nauru Air Corporation. He was also appointed Minister Assisting the President of Nauru.

In July, when President Waqa was out of the country, Adeang was acting president. He made a decision to stop Nauruan media from showing an interview where an opposition MP criticized the government. This decision caused international attention and was criticized by the opposition.

A few days later, Adeang again stopped an interview from being shown. This time, it was an interview with an opposition MP who was criticizing an agreement between Nauru and Australia about refugees. Adeang allowed an interview where he explained the government's view but did not allow the opposition's view to be aired. He explained that the opposition's interpretation of the agreement did not match the government's, and he believed the government's was correct.

Presidency

On October 25, 2023, the parliament voted to remove President Russ Kun. After this vote, the parliament had trouble choosing a new president, with a tie vote. On October 30, there was another vote, and David Adeang tied with another MP, Delvin Thoma. In the next vote, Adeang won with ten votes to Thoma's eight.

David Adeang officially became President on October 31, 2023. He announced the members of his cabinet on the same day.

See also

In Spanish: David Adeang para niños

• Politics of Nauru
• 2008 Nauruan parliamentary election