Freedom in the World 2018 - Micronesia

Freedom Status: Free

Aggregate Score: 93 (0 = Least Free, 100 = Most Free)
Freedom Rating: 1.0 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free)
Political Rights: 1 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free)
Civil Liberties: 1 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free)

Quick Facts

Population: 100,000
Capital: Palikir
GDP/capita: $3,018
Press Freedom Status: Free

OVERVIEW

The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a relatively stable democracy that holds regular, competitive elections. However, secessionist movements have sometimes unsettled the country's politics and threatened its unity. The judiciary is independent, and civil liberties are generally respected. Ongoing problems include underreporting of domestic violence and a lack of legal protections for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people.

Key Developments in 2017:

• Congressional elections were held in March, with all candidates running as independents.

• A proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed dual citizenship failed to pass in a referendum held concurrently with the March elections. It reached the required 75 percent approval threshold in only one of the federation's four states.

POLITICAL RIGHTS: 37 / 40

A. ELECTORAL PROCESS: 12 / 12

The FSM president and vice president are indirectly elected for four-year terms by members of Congress from among the legislature's four at-large state representatives, known as senators. In 2015, Congress named Peter Christian, the senator representing the state of Pohnpei, as president and Yosiwo George, the senator for Kosrae, as vice president.

Each of the four states (Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae) also has its own elected governor.

The federal Congress consists of one senator elected by each state to serve four-year terms and 10 members elected for two-year terms in single-member districts that are allocated according to population. Each state also has its own elected legislature.

In March 2017, the FSM held congressional elections for the 10 two-year seats. Eight of the 10 incumbents were returned to office, and all candidates ran as independents. There were no reports of fraud or irregularities.

Elections in Micronesia, which are generally considered free and fair, are administered by a government agency headed by a national election director and one commissioner for each state.

Constitutional amendments must be approved by three-quarters of the votes cast in at least three of the four states. In March 2017, referendum voters in all four states endorsed a proposed amendment that would have allowed dual citizenship, but it reached the required 75 percent threshold in only one state (Kosrae).

B. POLITICAL PLURALISM AND PARTICIPATION: 15 / 16

There are no formal political parties, but there are no restrictions on their formation. All candidates ran as independents in the 2015 general elections and the 2017 congressional elections.

The country has an established record of democratic power transfers. Under an informal agreement, the presidency has typically rotated among the four states, but Congress has sometimes chosen to deviate from this pattern.

Traditional leaders and institutions exercise significant influence in society, especially at the village level. However, neither these nor donor countries like the United States and China exert undue control over the political choices of voters or candidates.

Women and minority groups formally have full political rights, and they are free to participate in practice, though women's political engagement is limited to some extent by traditional biases. Two female candidates ran unsuccessfully in the 2017 congressional elections, and the FSM remained one of the few countries in the world with no women in its national legislature.

C. FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT: 10 / 12

Elected officials determine and implement policy and legislation at the federal level, though considerable authority is vested in the states and their elected governments. Some leading politicians from Chuuk, by far the most populous state, have advocated independence from the FSM in recent years, and during 2017 the issue remained a topic of public discussion under the guidance of the Chuuk Political Status Commission.

The FSM relies on defense guarantees and economic assistance from the United States under a 1986 Compact of Free Association. Under the current terms of the compact, the United States will provide more than $130 million in annual aid through 2023, in addition to funding from applicable U.S. federal programs. China has also become an increasingly important partner for trade and development aid in recent years, though its role does not amount to undue interference in FSM governance.

Official corruption is a problem and a source of public discontent. Complaints about misuse of public resources are frequent, particularly from U.S. authorities overseeing aid funds. Government entities responsible for combating corruption, including the attorney general's office and a public auditor, are independent and fairly effective, though some corrupt officials reportedly enjoy impunity. In February 2017, former Pohnpei governor John Ehsa was charged with misappropriating travel funds in 2014.

Government operations and legislative processes are generally transparent, though there is no comprehensive law guaranteeing public access to government information. Limited technical capacity and the country's sprawling geography pose practical barriers to openness and accountability in the FSM. Officials are not legally obliged to submit asset disclosures.

CIVIL LIBERTIES: 56 / 60

D. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND BELIEF: 16 / 16

The news media operate freely. Print outlets include government-published newsletters and several small, privately owned weekly and monthly newspapers. There are a number of radio stations, cable television is available, and satellite television is increasingly common. More than a third of the population has internet access.

Religious freedom is generally respected, and religious groups are not required to register with the government. About 99 percent of the population is Christian. A small Ahmadi Muslim community has reported some instances of discrimination and vandalism.

There were no reports of restrictions on academic freedom in 2017.

The constitution guarantees freedom of expression, and there are no significant constraints on this right in practice. The government does not improperly monitor personal communications or social media activity.

E. ASSOCIATIONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL RIGHTS: 11 / 12

Freedom of assembly is protected by the constitution, and demonstrations typically proceed peacefully.

Citizens are free to organize in civic groups, and a number of students' and women's organizations are active.

Freedom of association in general is respected, and there are no laws to prevent workers from forming unions, engaging in collective bargaining, or striking. However, such activities are not specifically protected or regulated by law, and few employers are large enough to support unionization in practice.

F. RULE OF LAW: 15 / 16

The judiciary is independent. The chief justice, who administers the judicial system, and the associate justices of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president with the approval of a two-thirds majority in Congress. They are appointed for life terms and cannot be removed arbitrarily.

The police respect legal safeguards against arbitrary arrest and detention, and defendants are generally provided with basic due process guarantees surrounding trials and appeals. However, a shortage of lawyers may sometimes impair detainees' access to counsel in practice, according to the U.S. State Department.

There were no reports of physical abuse or inhumane treatment by police or prison officials in 2017. Criminal activity does not pose a major threat to physical security, though police have struggled to deal with illegal fishing.

The constitution gives citizens equal protection under the law and prohibits discrimination based on race, ancestry, national origin, gender, language, or social status. Women generally receive equal pay in formal employment, though they continue to suffer from a degree of societal discrimination.

Same-sex sexual activity is legal, but no laws protect against hate crimes or discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

G. PERSONAL AUTONOMY AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS: 14 / 16

Freedom of movement is generally respected. Under the Compact of Free Association, Micronesians are free to travel to the United States without visas for residence, education, and employment. Many Micronesians have migrated to U.S. Pacific states or territories such as Hawaii and Guam.

Property rights are protected by law, and individuals are able to operate private businesses; most such enterprises are small and family owned in practice. There are some legal restrictions on noncitizens' ability to own land and run businesses in certain sectors.

Personal social freedoms are largely protected. However, there are no specific laws against spousal rape, and both rape and domestic violence are rarely prosecuted due to societal inhibitions against reporting such crimes.

Forced labor is prohibited, and the government effectively enforces basic standards for working conditions in the formal sector. Foreign migrant workers nevertheless remain vulnerable to exploitative labor practices, including on foreign fishing vessels in FSM waters, and some Micronesian women are reportedly trafficked for sexual exploitation.

Scoring Key: X / Y (Z)

X = Score Received
Y = Best Possible Score
Z = Change from Previous Year