Russ Kun

This article is about Russ Kun. He is not to be confused with another Nauruan politician with a similar name, see Russell Kun.

Russ Joseph Kun (born 8 September 1975) is a Nauruan politician who served as President of Nauru from being elected in the 2022 presidential election to October 2023.^[2] He has served as a member of parliament for Ubenide since 2013.

His Excellency Russ Kun MP
Kun in 2023
President of Nauru
In office 29 September 2022 – 30 October 2023
Deputy	Martin Hunt
Preceded by	Lionel Aingimea
Succeeded by	David Adeang
Member of the Nauruan Parliament for Ubenide
Incumbent
Assumed office 11 June 2013
Personal details
Born	Russ Joseph Kun (1975-09-08) 8 September 1975 (age 48)
Spouse	Simina Kun^[1]

Biography

Kun was born on 8 September 1975.^[3] He served as a scrutineer for the 2003^[4] and 2004 general elections.^[5] He served as acting Secretary for the Ministry of Commerce Industry & Resources in 2005.^[6] He served as acting Chief Secretary in 2008^[7] and as acting Secretary of Home Affairs in 2012.^[8] Prior to entering Parliament, he worked for the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment.^[9] Kun also was a member of the Nauru National Commission for UNESCO from 2008 to 2010^[10] and from 2012^[11] to 2013.^[12]

Kun was first elected to the Parliament of Nauru in 2013, as one of the four members from Ubenide Constituency. He was re-elected in 2016, 2019, and 2022. In the last Aingimea government, Kun was deputy minister for Finance, Nauru Ports, Tourism, and National Heritage and Museum.^[13]

Kun is a member of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC). After attending a GOPAC workshop, he led efforts to develop a code of ethics for the Parliament of Nauru. To this end, he served as chair of the parliamentary Standing Committee on the Leadership Code.^[14]

In the first parliament sitting after the 2022 general election, Kun was the sole nominee for President of Nauru. He was sworn in along with his cabinet on 29 September. His own portfolios include foreign affairs and justice and border control.^[15]

On 25 October 2023, a vote of no confidence against Kun passed through parliament. David Adeang was elected president via secret ballot by the parliament on 30 October.^[16]

References

1. "Nauru President attends King's coronation". Loop Nauru (Press release). 8 May 2023. from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
2. "Pacific news in brief for September 28". RNZ News. 28 September 2022. from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022. Nauru MP Russ Kun is the newly elected president of the republic. He was nominated unopposed in the inaugural sitting of the 24th Parliament, today, Wednesday 28 September.
3. Deigidoa, Gideon (16 June 1976). "Births, Deaths and Marriages" (PDF). Republic of Nauru Government Gazette (27): 4. (PDF) from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
4. Star, T.W. (30 April 2003). "G.N.No. 110/2003" (PDF). Republic of Nauru Government Gazette (34): 4. (PDF) from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
5. Solomon, Camilla (20 October 2004). "Appointment of Scrutineers" (PDF). Republic of Nauru Government Gazette (84): 7. (PDF) from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
6. Solomon, Camilla (30 November 2005). "Appointment of Acting Secretary for Commerce Industry & Resource" (PDF). Republic of Nauru Government Gazette (99): 3. (PDF) from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
7. "G.N.No. 237 / 2008" (PDF). Republic of Nauru Government Gazette (62): 1. 4 June 2008. (PDF) from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
8. "G.N.No. 161/ 2012" (PDF). Republic of Nauru Government Gazette (35): 1. 28 March 2012. (PDF) from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
9. Thow, A. M.; Quested, C.; Juventin, L.; Kun, R.; Khan, A. N.; Swinburn, B. (1 March 2011). "Taxing soft drinks in the Pacific: implementation lessons for improving health". Health Promotion International. 26 (1): 55–64. doi:10.1093/heapro/daq057. hdl:10536/DRO/DU:30077328. ISSN 0957-4824. PMID 20739326.
10. Solomon, Camilla (20 February 2008). "G.N.No. 74 / 2008" (PDF). Republic of Nauru Government Gazette (17): 1. (PDF) from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
11. Grundler, Bernard (16 March 2012). "G.N.No. 149/ 2012" (PDF). Republic of Nauru Government Gazette (34): 2. (PDF) from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
12. Paravanoor, Sasikumar (17 June 2013). "G.N.No. 446 / 2013" (PDF). Republic of Nauru Government Gazette (95): 2. (PDF) from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
13. Ligaiula, Pita (28 September 2022). "Russ Kun elected Nauru president unopposed". PINA. from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
14. Hyde, John (2015). "Establishing Anti-Corruption Practices in the Pacific Region" (PDF). The Parliamentarian. 96 (4). Commonwealth Parliamentary Association: 278–279. (PDF) from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
15. "Nauru's new President takes oath". RNZ. 29 September 2022. from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
16. "Taiwan congratulates new Nauru President David Adeang". Focus Taiwan. 30 October 2023. from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.

 

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