Jurelang Zedkaia
Encyclopedia
Jurelang Zedkaia is a Marshallese
traditional chief and politician. Zedkaia was elected
the 5th President
of the Marshall Islands
on October 26, 2009, following the ouster of his predecessor, Litokwa Tomeing
, in the country's first successful vote of no confidence.
, or traditional paramount chief
, of Majuro Atoll, which is the location of the country's capital. Before becoming president in 2009, Zedkaia was a five-term elected Senator in the Nitijela, or legislature. He became vice speaker of the Nitijela, before becoming the Speaker
of the legislature in January 2008.
Zedkaia's previous career was working at a pharmacy for 15 years and 6 years in the Majuro Atoll Local Government. Zedikaia entered the Ntijela in 1981 as representative and senator of Majuro Attol, a post he has served in the duration of his time in the Nitijela.
was defeated in a vote of no confidence on October 21, 2009, in a motion led by former president Kessai Note
. The ouster of President Tomeing marked the first successful vote of no confidence in Marshallese history.
A presidential election
, whose outcome is determined by the 33-member Nitijela, took place on October 26, 2009. Speaker Zedkaia and former President Kessai Note were the only candidates for the presidency. Zedkaia was elected president on October 26, 2010, defeating Note in by 17-15, giving Zedkaia the one-vote minimum majority needed to win. He was sworn into office on November 2, 2009.
Zedkaia nominated Alvin Jacklick as the new Speaker, who was confirmed without opposition.
Zedkaia's mother, Leroij Atama Zedkaia
, the paramount chief
of Majuro Atoll, died on November 19, 2010, at the age of 79. Zedkaia had previously carried out chiefly duties on behalf of his mother during her lifetime. President Zedkaia assumed the chiefly titles for all of the lands on Majuro that had been previously governed by Leroij Atama following her death. He now assumed all chiefly duties in his own name. The state funeral
his mother was the largest to take place in the Marshall Islands since the death of President Amata Kabua
in 1996.
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
traditional chief and politician. Zedkaia was elected
Marshall Islands presidential election, 2009
An indirect presidential election was held in the Marshall Islands on 26 October 2009 following the ousting of incumbent President Litokwa Tomeing in the nation's first successful vote of no confidence on 21 October 2009...
the 5th President
President of the Marshall Islands
-List of Presidents of the Marshall Islands:...
of the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
on October 26, 2009, following the ouster of his predecessor, Litokwa Tomeing
Litokwa Tomeing
Iroij Litokwa Tomeing was the President of the Marshall Islands from January 2008 until October 2009.-Early and personal life:Litokwa Tomeing was born on Wotje Atoll, in the Japanese administered Marshall Islands, on October 14, 1939...
, in the country's first successful vote of no confidence.
Biography
Zedkaia is the IroijlaplapIroijlaplap
Iroijlaplap is the title given to the paramount chiefs in the Marshall Islands. An ordinary chief holds the title of Iroij ....
, or traditional paramount chief
Paramount chief
A paramount chief is the highest-level traditional chief or political leader in a regional or local polity or country typically administered politically with a chief-based system. This definition is used occasionally in anthropological and archaeological theory to refer to the rulers of multiple...
, of Majuro Atoll, which is the location of the country's capital. Before becoming president in 2009, Zedkaia was a five-term elected Senator in the Nitijela, or legislature. He became vice speaker of the Nitijela, before becoming the Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the legislature in January 2008.
Zedkaia's previous career was working at a pharmacy for 15 years and 6 years in the Majuro Atoll Local Government. Zedikaia entered the Ntijela in 1981 as representative and senator of Majuro Attol, a post he has served in the duration of his time in the Nitijela.
President of the Marshall Islands
Zedkaia's predecessor, Litokwa TomeingLitokwa Tomeing
Iroij Litokwa Tomeing was the President of the Marshall Islands from January 2008 until October 2009.-Early and personal life:Litokwa Tomeing was born on Wotje Atoll, in the Japanese administered Marshall Islands, on October 14, 1939...
was defeated in a vote of no confidence on October 21, 2009, in a motion led by former president Kessai Note
Kessai Note
Kessai Hesa Note is a former President of the Marshall Islands, having served from 2000 to 2008.Having served as Speaker of Parliament since 1988, he was elected President in 2000, and was the first commoner to be elected to the Presidency...
. The ouster of President Tomeing marked the first successful vote of no confidence in Marshallese history.
A presidential election
Marshall Islands presidential election, 2009
An indirect presidential election was held in the Marshall Islands on 26 October 2009 following the ousting of incumbent President Litokwa Tomeing in the nation's first successful vote of no confidence on 21 October 2009...
, whose outcome is determined by the 33-member Nitijela, took place on October 26, 2009. Speaker Zedkaia and former President Kessai Note were the only candidates for the presidency. Zedkaia was elected president on October 26, 2010, defeating Note in by 17-15, giving Zedkaia the one-vote minimum majority needed to win. He was sworn into office on November 2, 2009.
Zedkaia nominated Alvin Jacklick as the new Speaker, who was confirmed without opposition.
Zedkaia's mother, Leroij Atama Zedkaia
Atama Zedkaia
Leroij Atama Zedkaia was the Marshallese paramount chief, or Leroijlaplap, of Majuro. Leroij Zedkaia spearheaded the movement to break the Marshall Islands away from the rest of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and form the independent Republic of the Marshall Islands...
, the paramount chief
Paramount chief
A paramount chief is the highest-level traditional chief or political leader in a regional or local polity or country typically administered politically with a chief-based system. This definition is used occasionally in anthropological and archaeological theory to refer to the rulers of multiple...
of Majuro Atoll, died on November 19, 2010, at the age of 79. Zedkaia had previously carried out chiefly duties on behalf of his mother during her lifetime. President Zedkaia assumed the chiefly titles for all of the lands on Majuro that had been previously governed by Leroij Atama following her death. He now assumed all chiefly duties in his own name. The state funeral
State funeral
A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of protocol, held to honor heads of state or other important people of national significance. State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive elements of military tradition...
his mother was the largest to take place in the Marshall Islands since the death of President Amata Kabua
Amata Kabua
Amata Kabua was the first President of the Marshall Islands from 1979 to 1996 ....
in 1996.