By: L.N. Reklai
(Palau) November 1st of this year, the day of the national general election, is a national holiday called National Day of Democracy, established through Executive Order 313, signed in 2012 by former President Johnson Toribiong.
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“..the most fundamental attribute of a true democracy is the right of the people to choose their leaders through open and free elections by secret ballot, …… and it is proper and fitting that a date be set aside for us to honor and celebrate this underlying principle of democracy…”
Stating that the fundamental right to choose leaders through open and free elections is so important to true democracy, former President Johnson Toribiong signed an Executive Order under his authority as President, declaring and designating “November 6, 2012 and each subsequent National Election Day” a legal holiday of the Republic of Palau, to be known as “National Day of Democracy”.
The Executive Order was signed on October 31, 2012.
November 1, 2016, which falls on a Tuesday, next month, will be a national holiday and a day of voting into office the new leadership for the next four years. [/restrict]