CITIZENSHIP CHALLENGED

As the campaign season for the FSM Congress continue, the only candidate challenging the incumbent for Pohnpei election district 3 has raised concerns about the legitimacy of the incumbent's citizenship. The incumbent was not born in the FSM.

According to a KPress article on the matter, "Moses says that the topic of his citizenship comes up frequently and that he has the required documentation. He said that he elected FSM citizenship on January 6, 1995, as did his sister, and utilized the correct forms to do so. He said that he is in the process of filing a motion for dismissal and is anxious to put the matter behind him once and for all.

If these allegations are true, it would invalidate the incumbent's eligibility for the congress seat. Erick Paul then would be the only candidate for the district's seat and be unopposed as nomination petitions have already closed. Mr. Paul is currently the Assistant Secretary for the Department of Finance and Administration for the FSM Government.