67. Are there provisions for conflict of interests for candidates and/or elected officials?

(g) "Employee" means any nominated, appointed, or elected officer or employee of any state government or the national government. "Former employee" means a person who has been an employee within the preceding two years.

Source: Article 601, Palau National Code, Title 33 Public Employment Chapter 6 Code of Ethics  revised edition April 2014

An employee of the national government covered under the National Public Service System Act, or of the state governments, or their agencies, shall not:

(a) use his official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of any national election; or

(b) accept the nomination and become a candidate for any elective office in the national government without resigning from his job within fourteen (14) days of the filing of nomination papers making him an official candidate for any elective office in the national government.

Source: Article 1104, Palau National Code, Title 23 Elections revised edition April 2014

(a) No employee may take, participate in taking or use his or her government position to attempt to influence any official action where it is reasonably foreseeable that the action could have a material financial effect on that employee, or on any financial interest of that employee, that is different from the effect on the public generally. An employee who is unable to disqualify himself on any matter because he is the only person authorized by law to perform the official action will not be in violation of this subsection if he has complied with the disclosure requirements in section 605.

(b) No employee may acquire a financial interest in any business or other undertaking which he has reason to believe may be directly affected by official actions to be taken by him.

(c) No employee may assist any person for compensation or act in a representative capacity before any national or state government agency in any matter that relates in any way to the governmental duties of the employee.

(d) No employee may use or attempt to use the employee's official position to secure or grant privileges, exemptions, advantages, contracts, or treatment, for himself or others, including but not limited to the following:

(1) Seeking other employment or contracts for services for the employee by the use or attempted use of the employee's office or position; and

(2) Soliciting, receiving or accepting compensation or other consideration for the performance of the employee's official duties or responsibilities except as provided by law;

(3) Soliciting, receiving or accepting any gift or other item of monetary value from any person seeking official action from, doing business with, or conducting activities regulated by the employee's agency, or from any person whose interests may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the employee's duties; provided that this subdivision shall not apply to wedding gifts, customary gifts and gifts exchanged between individuals on birthdays, holidays and other similar occasions, provided that the gifts exchanged are not substantially disproportionate in value.

(e) No employee may engage in any outside employment or other outside activity that is incompatible with the full and proper discharge of the employee's office or position. The Ethics Commission shall, for each government agency, designate those outside activities that are deemed to be incompatible with the duties of the employees of that agency.

Source: Article 604, Palau National Code, Title 33 Public Employment Chapter 6 Code of Ethics revised edition April 2014

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