Kausaanek Malaati

The Honourable Kausaanek Malaati KTP SMA
Iipaatoklipiittanit
Kausaanek in 2021
15th Prime Minister of Mava
Incumbent
Assumed office 22 March 2023
President	Nua Kiuiaakii
Deputy	Anaayak Nelagak
Preceded by	Paqtuq Maagamarak
Leader of the Progressive Party of the Mavean Islands
Incumbent
Assumed office 20 March 2023
Preceded by	Paqtuq Maagamarak
Minister of Justice
In office 19 May 2019 – 22 May 2023
Prime Minister	Nitigak Issitaunimaakok
Preceded by	Saatamaq Nelek
Succeeded by	Aimapiik Kaanagak
Member of Parliament for Aasqaalet's 1st Constituency
Incumbent
Assumed office 9 May 1997
Preceded by	Niilaraq Saalunerk
Personal details
Born	Kausaanek Salaaq Malaati (1952-08-10) 10 August 1952 Paas, Mava
Political party	Progressive
Alma mater	University of Mava (LLM), University of Chalatenango (DPhil)

Kausaanek Salaaq Malaati KTP SMA (/koʊsaːnek salaːk malaːti/; born 10 August 1952), also known by his laaskoila Iipaatoklipiittanit (lit. "Miracle Child") is a Mavean politician serving as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Mava and Leader of the Progressive Party of the Mavean Islands since 2023. He previously served as Minister of Justice under the premiership of Nitigak Issitaunimaakok, and has been a Member of Parliament for Aasqaalet's 1st Constituency since 1997. He is the oldest person to assume the office of Prime Minister, having done so at the age of 70.

Kausaanek was born in Paas and was educated in Mava and Atitlan. He studied law at the University of Mava, graduating with an LLM in 1974 and a DPhil in 1983. After graduating, he entered academia as an associate professor in law at the University of Mava, specialising in constitutional law. In 1986, he became Professor of Constitutional Law, and became a visiting professor in law at the University of Chalatenango in 1992. In 1995 he was a candidate for president, but withdrew before voting.

Kausaanek was elected to the Mavean Parliament in 1997, representing Aasqaalet's 1st Constituency. He served as a member of the parliament's justice committee before his appointment as Minister of Justice in 2019, during which time he earned a reputation as a pragmatic, non-ideological figure. On the resignation of Paqtuq Maagamarak following a criminal conviction, Kausaanek was elected to succeed him by the Progressive Party. His election was initially seen as a short-term arrangement, but the Progressive Party's electoral victory in the 2023 general election confirmed his position. As prime minister, he has established himself as a liberal figure, supporting changes to Mava's abortion law and efforts to improve LGBT rights. He has nonetheless continued his predecessor's economic reforms, loosening business regulations and imposing restrictions on tax increases.

Early life and education

Kausaanek was born on 10 August 1952 to Malaati Kaaganatak and Amuniq Ikinqipaagmik. Malaati was a local lawyer and commissioner of the peace, who was a legal advisor to the local district government. He had met his wife, Amuniq, when she worked as a clerk for the Pmaak City and District Council, and married after a short six-month courtship. Kausaanek was born in Pmaak and moved with his family to Aasqaalet six months later. He was educated at Maqtaniik Community School and Aasqaalet District College, before enrolling at the University of Mava. In 1974, he graduated with a LLM and worked as a solicitor apprentice with Kaatanok & Uusiavak (K&U). In his final year of apprenticeship, K&U funded his doctorate, which he completed in 1983 at the University of Chalatenango. His thesis, "Nationbuilding and the Birth of the Mavean Constitution" was subsequently published and has gone through numerous editions.

Career

After receiving his doctorate, he became a post-doctoral fellow at Chalatenango, focussing on public understanding of constitutional systems and their relationship with their political systems. In 1986 he became a lecturer at Chalatenango, eventually becoming associate professor in 1992. During his time at Chalatenango, he worked on the National Constitution Project and the Political Exchange Network, both of which aiming to educate the Atitlanese public on the constitution and their rights under it.

In 1994 he returned to Mava and briefly entered politics as a candidate in the 1995 presidential election. His appointment as a professor of constitutional law at the University of Mava led him to withdraw, despite initial support from the government.

Political career

In 1995, prime minister Tiiqaat Nuisaat invited Kausaanek to sit as a member of the House of Elders as part of the judiciary panel. He declined the offer, having ambitions to be elected to the House of Representatives.

In the 1997 general election, Kausaanek was elected to represent Aasqaalet's 1st Constituency, coming second of three elected members.

Minister of Justice

In May 2019 he was appointed Minister of Justice in the Nitigak government, becoming the oldest first-time cabinet minister since Taumanaqnik Paakatok in 1964. His first act as minister was to initiate a review into the feasibility of electing judges, which had previously been suggested by his predecessor Saatamaq Nelek. The eventual report, which he endorsed, recommended that judges be appointed on the recommendation of an independent body. The Judges (Appointments and Tenure) Act 2021 transferred responsibility for the nomination of judges to the Mavean Law Sociey.

In response to a perceived lack of focus on serious crime, Kausaanek pursued a "first things first" agenda, requiring courts to prioritise serious crimes and encouraging police to issue cautions for certain offences in place of a formal arrest. He was criticised by anti-drug advocates for suggesting that drug users are "small fish" and should not "obstruct" the proceedings of courts. In Parliament, Kausaanek clarified that he was not in favour of decriminalising or legalising drugs, saying that he "recognises the danger that drugs pose to our society and the harm that they do to users, to their families, and to the rest of us."

In 2021, he pioneered the creation of "community rehabilitation services", transferring responsibility for the rehabilitation and reintroduction of convicts into society from the National Probation Service to district governments. This was followed a year later with the abolition of the National Probation Service and its replacement with the Probation and Offender Management Service. The creation of the new service prompted criticism for its perceived lack of independence, with its first director previously being a political appointee in the justice ministry.

Prime Minister (2023-present)

Kausaanek was appointed prime minister by President Nua Kiuiaakii on 22 March 2023 following the sudden resignation of Paqtuq Maagamarak. His appointment was historic, being the oldest person to assume the office. This followed his becoming leader of the Progressive Party, having been unanimously acclaimed with no rival candidates.

On his appointment, he met with business leaders and confirmed his commitment to continue his predecessors economic reforms. His government has proposed a comprehensive review of small business regulation, which includes increasing the minimum number of employees required for minimum wage laws to apply, granting tax cuts for small business start ups, and the simplification of the tax return process.

Although commentators initially believed his appointment to be temporary, given the immediate resignation of Paqtuq without a transition period, he led the Progressive Party into the May 2023 election. Despite the party's unpopularity, particularly given the controversies surrounding Paqtuq, his party won the election with a slightly reduced vote share.

Personal life

Kausaanek is unmarried, having declared:

"the prospect of sharing my life with the same person scares me. I get bored easily. I want to move on and try new things, and I don't think that is compatible with the married lifestyle."

He is a private figure and is known for avoiding questions on his private life. His unmarried status has led to suggestions of homosexuality, further encouraged by his flamboyant and often-exaggerated mannerisms. Kausaanek has not disclosed his sexuality, neither confirming nor denying claims of homosexuality. In a 2023 interview, shortly before becoming prime minister, he expressed his view that a politicians private life is unimportant unless it is "corrupt, immoral, or compromising."

He is an avid reader and collector of banknotes. He is also a singer, having performed on several occasions.

Honours

Ribbon bar	Honour	Date and comment
	Fellow of the Mava Society	18 July 2001 Entitled to the post-nominals SMA
	Companion of the Order of the Buttercup	1 September 2015 Entitled to the post-nominals KTP

See also

• Prime Minister of Mava