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Johnson ToribiongPresident of Palau since 15 January 2009
Date of Birth: 22.07.1946
Country:  Palau |
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Biography of Johnson Toribiong
Johnson Toribiong was born on April 22, 1946. In 1973, he graduated from the School of Law at Washington University and became a practicing lawyer. He had a private practice and served as Palau's ambassador to Taiwan. However, even before entering politics, critical stories were published in the Western press about Johnson's inability to defend his clients' interests, although he attempted to take on complex cases, including those involving foreigners.
President of Palau
Since January 15, 2009, Johnson Toribiong has been the President of the island state of Palau. He won the presidency with low voter turnout, as only about 3,000 out of the 21,000 indigenous population of Palau decided to participate in the elections. This is not a coincidence. Palau only has the appearance of democracy, and the person in power there always stands above the law. As a result, the country's residents simply do not trust politicians. Furthermore, the Palau government is criticized worldwide for its commitment to lawlessness and complete autocracy. Johnson Toribiong is a part of this system, and it remains unclear whether he will fight against it or become like other officials in this small country.
Republic of Palau
The Republic of Palau is an island state located in the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean. The 200 islands of the country occupy an area approximately half the size of Moscow (458 sq. km). The population of Palau is small, with just over 20,000 inhabitants living on the islands. The state of Palau is so poor that it cannot sustain itself and is therefore in a free association with the United States. The economy of Palau is based on cultivating coconut palms, fishing, and tourism. However, the volume of imports is nearly 20 times greater than the volume of exports, and therefore, the country relies on subsidies from the United States. Tourism in the country is much less developed than, for example, in the Maldives. Western analysts attribute this to the total lawlessness of local authorities. Foreigners who find themselves in an unpleasant situation on one of the islands of Palau have no chance of defending their interests even through the courts. The local population rarely seeks legal advice from lawyers. Legal consultations are one of the least demanded services among local residents. It is not surprising that in such a situation, Johnson Toribiong, who has a legal education, is highly disliked by the people.
Future of Palau
In 2009, the free association agreement with the United States will expire, but it is likely that the new president of Palau will be forced to extend it. Without its own army and being a deeply unprofitable country where even tourism develops at a very slow pace, Palau will continue to rely on American funding by providing its territories for American military bases.
