Thomas Remengesau Jr.

2025-08-26T14:40:59Z

2600:4040:58F1:1300:D8FA:6D7A:3761:E16B:

{{short description|7th and 9th President of Palau}}
{{BLP sources|date=September 2013}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[His Excellency]]
| name = Thomas Remengesau Jr.
| image = Tommy Remengesau 2016.jpg
| caption = Remengesau in May 2016
| order = 7th & 9th
| office = President of Palau
| vicepresident = [[Antonio Bells]] [[Raynold Oilouch]]
| term_start = 17 January 2013
| term_end = 21 January 2021
| predecessor = [[Johnson Toribiong]]
| successor = [[Surangel Whipps Jr.]]
| vicepresident1 = [[Sandra Pierantozzi]] [[Elias Camsek Chin]]
| term_start1 = 1 January 2001
| term_end1 = 15 January 2009
| predecessor1 = [[Kuniwo Nakamura]]
| successor1 = [[Johnson Toribiong]]
| office2 = 4th [[Vice President of Palau]]
| president2 = [[Kuniwo Nakamura]]
| term_start2 = 1 January 1993
| term_end2 = 1 January 2001
| predecessor2 = [[Kuniwo Nakamura]]
| successor2 = [[Sandra Pierantozzi]]
| office3 = [[Minister of Administration of Palau]]
| president3 = [[Kuniwo Nakamura]]
| predecessor3 = [[Sandra Pierantozzi]]
| successor3 = [[Sandra Pierantozzi]]
| termstart3 = January 1993
| termend3 = January 2001
| birth_name = Thomas Esang Remengesau Jr.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|2|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Koror]], [[Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands]] {{small|(now [[Palau]])}}
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| spouse = [[Debbie Remengesau]]
| children = 4 (including [[TJ Imrur Remengesau|TJ Imrur]])
| parents = [[Thomas Remengesau Sr.]] Ferista Esang Remengesau
| relatives = [[Valerie Whipps]] ([[Sister]]) [[Surangel Whipps Jr.|Surangel Whipps]] ([[Brother-in-law]])
| alma_mater = [[Grand Valley State University]]
}}

'''Thomas Esang "Tommy" Remengesau Jr.''' (born 28 February 1956<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZZPlDQAAQBAJ&dq=Thomas+Remengesau+Jr.+28+Feb.+1956&pg=PA971 Profile of Tommy Remengesau Jr.]</ref>) is a [[Palauan people|Palauan]] politician. He served as the [[President of Palau|Palauan president]] between 2001-2009 and 2013-2021. He served as a Senator in the [[Palau National Congress]] between his two administrations.<ref name="PalauNationalGovernment">{{citation|url=http://palaugov.pw/biography/|title=Biography Palau National Government|access-date=2018-01-06|archive-date=2018-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513091019/http://palaugov.pw/biography/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In sum, Remengesau was elected [[Vice-President of Palau]] in 1992 and 1996, then president in 2000, 2004, 2012 and 2016.

Intending to make Palau less dependent upon [[United States]] aid, Remengesau has promoted the expansion and growth of tourism in Palau with the slogan "Preserve the Best and Improve the Rest". The "best" refers to Palau's especially bountiful and diverse marine water resources surrounding the islands, and, as a venue of underwater attractions, its reputation among the very top in the world. In foreign affairs, Remengesau has actively advanced Palau's presence in the [[United Nations]], elevating Palau to leadership among the international community through such environmental initiatives as the Micronesian Challenge. He is also a leader among South Pacific nations in advocating [[global warming|awareness of global warming]] and its effects in the [[South Pacific Area|South Pacific Region]].

In [[2024 Palauan general election|2024]], Remengesau ran for a fifth term in office, but decisively lost the election to incumbent [[Surangel Whipps Jr.]], making it the first election he ever lost.

==Early life==
Remengesau was born in [[Koror, Palau]]. His father was [[Thomas Remengesau Sr.]], who was District Administrator of Palau during the [[Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands|Trust Territory]] era, as well as Minister of Justice, Vice President, and briefly President of Palau. His mother, Ferista Esang Remengesau, also served as [[First Lady of Palau]].<ref name="PalauNationalGovernment"/> Remengesau was educated at [[Grand Valley State University]] in [[Allendale Charter Township, Michigan|Allendale]], [[Michigan]], in the United States, graduating from there in 1979.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.gvsu.edu/gvnow/2017/alumnus-president-of-palau-will-visit-campus-10204.htm|publisher=Grand Valley State University|title=Alumnus president of Palau will visit campus|date=2017-10-20|access-date=2018-05-25|archive-date=2018-05-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526190144/https://www.gvsu.edu/gvnow/2017/alumnus-president-of-palau-will-visit-campus-10204.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Political career==
===First service as senator, vice presidency, and first presidency===
[[File:Tommy Remengesau.jpg|thumb|Remengesau in 2008.]]
At 28 years old, Remengesau targeted the youth voting bloc of Palau and successfully lobbied for their support, in the process becoming known as one of the forefront advocates for the youth of Palau. Remengesau was then elected in 1984 to the Palau National Congress (Olbiil Era Kelulau), carried by the youth and a grassroots campaign to become the youngest senator in the nation's history at the age of 28. In 1992, he was elected [[Vice President of Palau]] and served two terms. He held the additional portfolio of [[Minister of Administration of Palau]]. In 2000, with the support of outgoing President [[Kuniwo Nakamura]], he won the presidential election, defeating ex-senator [[Peter Sugiyama]] by a margin of 52% to 46%.<ref name="Kyodo">{{citation|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Remengesau+clear+winner+in+Palau+presidential+race.-a067379463|title=Remengesau clear winner in Palau presidential race|date=2000-11-09|access-date=2010-11-22|periodical=Kyodo News}}</ref> He easily won re-election in 2004, defeating Polycarp Basilius by a margin of 66.5% to 33.5%, in a race dogged with rumors of improper financial influence from Taipei and Beijing.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}}

===As Senator again===
Remengesau announced in 2008 that he would seek a senatorial seat in the [[Senate of Palau]] in the [[2008 Palauan general election|2008 general election]].<ref name=pm>{{cite news |title=Palauans Prepare For Tuesday Primary Election |url=http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2008/09/20/palauans-prepare-for-tuesday-primary-election|work=[[Pacific Magazine]]|date=2008-09-20|access-date=2008-09-20}}{{dead link|date=September 2013}}</ref> He came in 11th in the election.

Remengesau was succeeded by President [[Johnson Toribiong]] on January 15, 2009.<ref name=oia>{{cite news|title=Secretary Salazar Meets with Palau President Toribiong March 12, 2009 |url=http://www.doi.gov/oia/press/2009/03122009.html |work=[[United States Department of the Interior]] |date=2009-03-20 |access-date=2009-04-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410215817/http://www.doi.gov/oia/press/2009/03122009.html |archive-date=April 10, 2009 }}</ref>

In April 2009, Special Prosecutor Michael Copeland, who served as Assistant Attorney General of Palau,<ref name=execution>{{cite news|first=Jack |last=Shuler |title=Can Executions Be More Humane? |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/03/can-executions-be-more-humane/388249/ |work=The Atlantic |publisher=The Atlantic Monthly Group |date=2015-03-12 |access-date=2018-03-16}}</ref> launched an investigation along with a Special Task Force, stating that "office received information that gave probable cause to believe evidence of criminal activity is contained on the hard drives of seized computers." Senator Remengesau decried the whole process as an act of "selective prosecution". {{Citation needed|date=April 2017}} After much speculation and media tabloid surrounding the investigation, Remengesau was found only to have been guilty of not filing properties of land and their values and accrued interest. Remengesau was charged with 19 counts of violating Palau's code of ethics for failing to disclose his interests in real properties and other assets in 2002 and 2003. The charges bear on the lack of filing of the transfers and the values of said properties. {{Citation needed|date=April 2017}} Remengesau has said that, "I am being charged for basically technical information related to the filing of personal assets under the
Code of Ethics law." “It was incomplete but it’s not like that we did not file anything. When we filed in years 2000-2002, we believed that what we were filing was in compliance with the law,” Remengesau said.

When asked about the verdict, he replied: “It is interesting because in our inquiries, roughly 90 percent filed the same way I did. And it is also an eye opener. I learned a lot from this trial and I hope other officials will also learn something from this because they will now change the way they disclose their assets.” {{citation needed|date=April 2017}} He added, “From now on, everyone who acquired land through tradition will also disclose it in their financial disclosure.” In April 2010, Associate Justice Kathleen Salii imposed a fine of US$156,400 on Remengesau. Although prosecutor Michael Copeland recommended a fine of US$1,357,500, Copeland would go on to express his satisfaction with the sentence in media interviews.<ref name="156k">{{citation|title=Palau court orders Remengesau to pay $156K fine|url=http://www.mvariety.com/regional-news/22595-palau-court-orders-remengesau-to-pay-156k-fine|work=[[Marianas Variety]]|publisher=Younis Art Studio Inc. |date=2008-12-28|access-date=2018-03-17}}</ref>

===Second presidency===
He took office as President again in 2013, after defeating his successor [[Johnson Toribiong]] in the [[2012 Palauan presidential election|November 2012 Palauan election]]. Due to his work regarding Palau's environment, Remengesau received the Pacific Champion Award in 2013, as well as the [[United Nations]]' [[Champions of the Earth|Champion of the Earth]] title, the Inspiring Conservation Award, and the IGFA Conservation Award, all in 2014. In 2016, he received the Peter Benchley Ocean Award for Excellence in National Stewardship.<ref name="PalauNationalGovernment"/> He appeared in the 2016 documentary film ''[[Before the Flood (film)|Before the Flood]]'' to discuss the vulnerability of Palau to [[sea level rise]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.beforetheflood.com/explore/the-experts/thomas-esang-tommy-remengesau-jr/|title=Before the Flood - Thomas Esang "Tommy" Remengesau, Jr.|website=Before the Flood|access-date=2018-05-25|archive-date=2021-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201408/https://www.beforetheflood.com/explore/the-experts/thomas-esang-tommy-remengesau-jr/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

He was challenged in his bid for a fourth term in the [[2016 Palauan presidential election|November 2016 election]] by his brother-in-law, Senator [[Surangel Whipps Jr.]]<ref name=independent>{{cite news|title=Palau island election: Brothers-in-law vying for presidency |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/palau-election-surangel-whipps-jr-tommy-remengesa-a7388551.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/palau-election-surangel-whipps-jr-tommy-remengesa-a7388551.html |archive-date=2022-05-07 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=[[The Independent]] |date=2016-10-31 |access-date=2016-11-05}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He received 5,109 votes compared to Whipps' 4,854.<ref name=gdp>{{cite news|first=Bernadette H.|last=Carreon |title= Palau election too close to call, Results to be decided by overseas ballots |url=http://www.postguam.com/sunday_post/palau-election-too-close-to-call/article_5ae76d46-a24d-11e6-b77d-b7b2cbab0571.html |work=[[Guam Daily Post]] |date=2016-11-06 |access-date=2016-11-06}}</ref> He succeeded his father as the [[Maderngebuked]] of [[Ngaraard]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegef.org/newsroom/feature-stories/palau-working-next-generation-and-next-and-next|title=In Palau, working for 'the next generation, and the next, and the next'|date=March 13, 2023|access-date=December 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231230170940/https://www.thegef.org/newsroom/feature-stories/palau-working-next-generation-and-next-and-next|archive-date=December 30, 2023|url-status=live|website=Global Environment Facility}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
He is married to [[Debbie Remengesau]].

==Honors==
*[[Order of Brilliant Jade]] with Grand Cordon (Republic of China - 2007)<ref>{{cite news |title=H.E. Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr., President of the Republic of Palau to lead a delegation to Taiwan |url=https://www.mofa.gov.tw/en/News_Content.aspx?n=1EADDCFD4C6EC567&sms=5B9044CF1188EE23&s=30CB5245F860492C |access-date=23 April 2020 |agency=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China |date=16 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901173727/https://www.mofa.gov.tw/en/News_Content.aspx?n=1EADDCFD4C6EC567&sms=5B9044CF1188EE23&s=30CB5245F860492C |archive-date=1 September 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{wikiquote}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130929105137/http://www.palaugov.net/PalauGov/Executive/thePRES/thePresident.htm Official biography]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071021021919/http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1663317_1663319_1669885,00.html Time Magazine: 2007 Heroes of the Environment - Tommy Remengesau Jr.]

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[Kuniwo Nakamura]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Vice President of Palau]]|years=1993–2001}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Sandra Pierantozzi]]}}
|-
{{s-ttl|title=[[President of Palau]]|years=2001–2009}}
{{s-aft|after={{nowrap|[[Johnson Toribiong]]}}}}
|-
{{s-bef|before={{nowrap|[[Johnson Toribiong]]}}}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[President of Palau]]|years=2013–2021}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Surangel Whipps Jr.]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{PalauPresidents}}
{{PalauVPs}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Remengesau, Tommy}}
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:20th-century Palauan politicians]]
[[Category:Palauan Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:21st-century Palauan politicians]]
[[Category:Children of presidents]]
[[Category:Finance ministers of Palau]]
[[Category:Grand Valley State University alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the Senate of Palau]]
[[Category:People from Koror]]
[[Category:Presidents of Palau]]
[[Category:Traditional chiefs of Palau]]
[[Category:Vice presidents of Palau]]

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Thomas Remengesau Jr.