Jurelang Zedkaia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Iroijlaplap Jurelang Zedkaia
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| 5th President of the Marshall Islands | |
| In office 2 November 2009 – 10 January 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Ruben Zackhras (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Christopher Loeak |
| Speaker of the Legislature | |
| In office 2008–2009 |
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| Preceded by | Litokwa Tomeing |
| Succeeded by | Alvin Jacklick |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 July 1950 Majuro Atoll, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands |
| Died | 7 October 2015 (aged 65) Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands |
| Political party | Kien Eo Am |
| Spouse | Hannah Jurelang Zedkaia |
Iroijlaplap Jurelang Zedkaia (born July 13, 1950 – died October 7, 2015) was an important leader from the Marshall Islands. He was a politician and also a traditional chief, known as an Iroijlaplap. He served as the President of the Marshall Islands from 2009 to 2012. He became the country's fifth head of state after being elected on October 26, 2009. This happened after the previous president was removed from office.
About Jurelang Zedkaia
Jurelang Zedkaia was an Iroijlaplap, which means he was a traditional paramount chief. He was the chief of Majuro Atoll, where the capital city is located. He was also a chief for Arno and Mili atolls.
Before becoming president, Zedkaia was a Senator in the Nitijela, which is the Marshall Islands' parliament or legislature. He was elected five times! He started as the Vice Speaker of the Nitijela and then became the Speaker in January 2008.
Zedkaia also worked in pharmacy for 15 years. He spent 6 years working for the local government of Majuro Atoll. He first joined the Nitijela in 1981 as a representative and senator for Majuro Atoll. He held this position throughout his time in the Nitijela.
Becoming President
The previous president, Litokwa Tomeing, was removed from office on October 21, 2009. This happened through something called a "vote of no confidence." This means that the members of the parliament (Nitijela) voted that they no longer had trust in the president's leadership. This was the first time a president had been removed this way in the Marshall Islands.
After this, a new presidential election was held on October 26, 2009. The 33 members of the Nitijela voted to choose the new president. Speaker Zedkaia and former President Kessai Note were the two candidates. Zedkaia won the election by a close vote of 17 to 15. He was officially sworn into office on November 2, 2009.
After becoming president, Zedkaia chose Alvin Jacklick to be the new Speaker of the Nitijela, and Jacklick was approved.
Zedkaia's mother, Leroij Atama Zedkaia, was also a paramount chief of Majuro Atoll. She passed away on November 19, 2010, at 79 years old. Before her death, President Zedkaia had already been helping with her chiefly duties. After she died, he took on all the traditional chief titles for the lands on Majuro that she had governed. His mother's state funeral was the largest held in the Marshall Islands since 1996.
Jurelang Zedkaia passed away in Majuro on October 7, 2015, when he was 65 years old.
