Profile
Ludwig Derangadage Scotty, longest serving member of
Parliament as at 16 May 2013, was born on 20 June 1948.
He was first elected to Parliament on 15 March 1983 for the
districts of Anabar/Ijuw/Anibare when he was 35 years old. He has
served as a member for the constituency ever since through
successive elections.
He has held office twice as President and 4 (or technically
5) times as Speaker.
He first served as Speaker from 13 April 2000 to 29 March 2001
and then held the office a second time from 25 May 2001 to 19
December 2002. In fact, his first appointment had lasted just 4
days until 17 April 2000, but he was reappointed only 1 day
later.
He was first elected President on 29 May 2003 and held the
position until 8 August 2003, when he was replaced by René
Harris.
His third period as Speaker was from 24 February 2004 to 6 April
2004.
His second term as President began on 22 June 2004 and he held
the role through another election until 19 December 2007. In this
term, he became the first president of Nauru to give up the foreign
affairs ministry when he appointed David Adeang to that
portfolio.
During this period, his government implemented major reforms to
restore the country's economy. The period was characterized by
relative stability for the Republic and a recognition of the
need for economic austerity measures and improvements in political
culture. The constitutional review process to improve the
functioning of Parliament and the offices of State began during
this period.
He again became Speaker on 1 November 2010 breaking a 6-month
deadlock. He resigned this role on 18 April 2013.
Over the years he has served on many Parliamentary Committees,
both Standing and Select, and he has been a senior member of the
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, including a valued member
of the Executive Committee of the CPA.