1983 Kiribati presidential election

1983 Kiribati presidential election

← 1982 17 February 1983 1987 →
Turnout69.3% (Decrease 13.1pp)
 
Candidate Ieremia Tabai Harry Tong
Popular vote 8,597 4,799
Percentage 49.61% 27.70%
Home island Nonouti Tabuaeran

 
Candidate Teatao Teannaki Tewareka Tentoa
Popular vote 2,814 1,118
Percentage 16.24% 6.45%
Home island Abaiang Onotoa

Map of margin of victory by constituency

President before election

Ieremia Tabai

Elected President

Ieremia Tabai

Presidential elections were held in Kiribati on 17 February 1983. Four candidates were chosen from members of parliament: incumbent president Ieremia Tabai, vice-president Teatao Teannaki, who was an ally of Tabai, opposition member Tewareka Tentoa, and newly elected opposition member Harry Tong. Tabai was re-elected with 49.61% of the vote.

The 1983 election was held only one year after the previous election, having been triggered by a motion of no confidence against Tabai's government. The motion of no confidence was nominally about a bill adjusting the pay of government officials, but the opposition cited broader concerns with Tabai's economic policy. Turnout was only 69.3% of registered voters, which marked a significant decrease from the previous election. After winning re-election and serving a full term, Tabai went on to be re-elected again in 1987.