Brothers-in-law: President Surangel Whipps Jr, left, will face former president Tommy Remengesau Jr in the polls on 5 November - the same date as the United States election. Photo: RNZ Pacific
Palau's President is going up against his brother-in-law and former two-time president in the nation's 2024 general election.
President Surangel Whipps Jr will face former president Tommy Remengesau Jr in the polls on 5 November - the same date as the United States election.
It is a reversal of 2016, when Whipps ran against Remengesau when he was president.
Whipps lost the election narrowly, with Remengesau receiving 5109 and Whipps having 4824.
Remengesau has already served two terms as president; from 2000-2008 and 2013-2021.
"Of course, he is my brother-in-law, but we are both candidates of the Palauan people," Whipps told media.
"I ran in 2016 because the Palauan people asked me to run and I'm sure that's why he's running now."
RNZ Pacific correspondent Ongerung Kesolei said it was strange with Palauan culture requiring the family to help each other.
He said in 2016 it was unexpected with Whipps being a senator at the time.
"How much of that cultural value played into that election? I really don't know.
"But there were people out there expressing their belief that Whipps shouldn't have challenged his brother-in-law, because it's not the way our culture works," Kesolei said.
"People still think that it's not a good idea for the brothers-in-law to go against each other."
However, Kesolei said some people viewed culture and the democratic proceedings were separate.
"I think when it comes to the family's customary obligations, they will continue to do their roles.
"I don't think it really affects them in terms of when you go to these public cultural events and funerals, but I think internally within the family, that would be a different matter."
As of July, there are over 16,600 voters across 16 states in Palau,
Kesolei said the two have opposing views when it comes to tax, the economy, education and crime.
Palau's President Surangel Whipps Jr will face former president Thomas Remengesau Jr in the polls on November 5. Photo: Caleb Fotheringham
However, he said both supported Taiwan and US military expansion.
Palau, alongside the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, have special relationships with the US in the Compact of Free Association (COFA) agreements.
Financial support is given to the three nations and in return the US is given military access and control.
For the upcoming US elections Whipps said, "whether it's [Donald] Trump or [Kamala] Harris, the relationship between Palau and the United States will remain strong".
"The difference that we have now versus the way we were back in 2010 is the realisation that we are partners, we have to work together, and they can't just ignore us which was kind of the feeling that we got.
"It was a totally different climate than what it is now."
