Remengesau Launches Reelection Bid
President Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr. on Aug 2, officially declared he is seeking re-election by filing his election papers.
Remengesau will be facing three other candidates in the contest for the top government post.
The president will campaign for a second term with a focus on creating a stronger economy and ensuring continuation of development initiatives such as his famed marine sanctuary program.
Remengesau said there are times that the government needs to step in and assist citizens and ensure that they have access to good government services, stating that his supporters share his policy that government “should not be run like a business but should be service oriented.”
“I think we have set a good foundation, the economy needs to keep growing but growing at a phase where no Palauns will be left behind. We need to make sure that the Palauans are the recipients of the fruits of our development,” he said.
Remengesau, originally president from 2001 to 2009, was elected to an additional four-year term in November of 2012. From 2009 to 2012 he served as senator as he was prohibited by the Constitution to run for a third term as president
The president was involved in politics at a very young age, he was elected senator when he was 28. He also served as vice president in 1992 and was reelected to the post in 1996.
Remengesau has also gained regional and international reputation for his environmental initiatives.
The president said he is running anew because there are important programs that need to be completed.
He said he wants to expand and ensure the growth of the tourism sector and make Palau a high-end tourism destination.
The president said he believes as a leader he is very accessible to the people and works well with the other sectors of the government and the society.
