René Harris
| René Harris | |
|---|---|
 |
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| President of Nauru (1st admin.) | |
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In office 27 April 1999 – 20 April 2000 |
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| Preceded by | Bernard Dowiyogo |
| Succeeded by | Bernard Dowiyogo |
| President of Nauru (2nd admin.) | |
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In office 30 March 2001 – 9 January 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Bernard Dowiyogo |
| Succeeded by | Bernard Dowiyogo |
| President of Nauru (3rd admin.) | |
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In office 17 January 2003 – 18 January 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Bernard Dowiyogo |
| Succeeded by | Bernard Dowiyogo |
| President of Nauru (4th admin.) | |
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In office 8 August 2003 – 22 June 2004 |
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| Preceded by | Ludwig Scotty |
| Succeeded by | Ludwig Scotty |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 November 1947 Nauru |
| Died | 5 July 2008 (aged 60) Nauru |
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The Honourable René Harris MP |
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|---|---|
| Member of the Nauruan Parliament for Aiwo |
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In office 15 February 1977 – 22 February 1977 |
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| Preceded by | Edwin Tsitsi |
| Succeeded by | himself |
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In office 12 June 1977 – 26 April 2008 |
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| Preceded by | himself |
| Succeeded by | Godfrey Thoma |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
11 November 1947 Nauru |
| Died | 5 July 2008 (aged 60) |
| Nationality |
 Nauruan
|
| Religion | Nauru Congregational Church |
René Reynaldo Harris (11 November 1947 – 5 July 2008) was President of the Republic of Nauru four times between 1999 and 2004. He was a Member of Parliament from 1977 to 2008.
He was educated at Geelong College in Victoria, Australia. Prior to his election to parliament, Harris worked for the Nauru Phosphate Corporation (NPC) and was the Manager of the Nauru Pacific Line.
He was first elected as an MP for Aiwo in 1977. His first term was quite short though; after seven days he had to resign on court conviction. His second term started in June 1977 in the following by-election and lasted for 31 years. Harris was elected Deputy Speaker of the Parliament in 1978 and Speaker in 1986. In 1992 he was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the NPC.
In 1998, Harris was convicted of assault and jail-breaking by forcibly freeing three of his relatives from the Nauru Police lock-up with the help of two accomplices. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation television program "Foreign Correspondent" also claimed that as Chairman of the NPC, Harris spent more than A$231,000 on luxury items, holidays and a property in Melbourne. Harris maintained a luxury penthouse suite on the 51st floor of Nauru House in Melbourne.
Harris first became President on 27 April 1999 and remained in that post until 20 April 2000 when he was replaced by Bernard Dowiyogo, who retained that office until Harris resumed the presidency on 29 March 2001 following a vote of no-confidence in Dowiyogo. The situation assumed farcial proportions in January 2003, when both men held the office twice. Dowiyogo eventually retained the presidency, although his death in March 2003 prompted another round of uncertainty. Harris was finally reelected President on 15 August 2003.
Harris was quoted as saying he was re-elected by the nation's parliament because the MPs "didn't see the light" with his predecessor, Ludwig Scotty. Harris broke the Nauruan government's deadlock when he was able to pass legislation through parliament in 2003.
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Wikipedia