31 May 2019

Scotty returns to Nauru parliament after by-election

2:24 pm on 31 May 2019
The Parliament building in Nauru.

The parliament building in Nauru. Photo: Supplied/ @ChrisTrott

A former Nauru president, Ludwig Scotty, has got back into parliament after winning Thursday's by-election in the Anabare constituency.

Mr Scotty had been defeated by Jason Dogireiy in the 2016 general election but Dogireiy lost the seat when he was convicted of assault and sentenced to 13 months jail, automatically disqualifying him from parliament.

Of the 716 registered voters in the Anabar constituency, 612 voted and the government, in a statement, says the 104 who failed to turn up to cast their votes will have fines imposed by the Electoral Commission.

Meanwhile Dogireiy has been given right to appeal, with that hearing set for September, which will deny him any opportunity to stand in the next general elections expected in August.