Parliamentary elections were held in Nauru on 23 October 2004. Non-partisan followers of Ludwig Scotty won a majority, and he was elected president by the parliament (the Nauruan president is effectively a prime minister as he is also an MP, as is the case in South Africa and Botswana).
In September 2004, health minister and MP Kieren Keke was suspended by Speaker Russell Kun, an opposition MP, due to having dual Nauruan and Australian citizenship. The Chief Justice of Nauru ruled that Keke could remain an MP, but Speaker did not allow Keke to return to his parliamentary seat until the undoing of his suspension was voted on by parliament. Gridlock then resulted in parliament failing to pass a new budget by the September deadline. On 30 September, President Ludwig Scotty declared a state of emergency and dissolved parliament. On 1 October, the government announced the resultant snap election would be held on 23 October. Opposition MPs accused the use of emergency powers and dissolution of parliament by the president of being unconstitutional. By 12 October, President Scotty's actions were upheld by the chief justice.
There were 76 candidates in the snap election. All sitting MPs sought re-election.
The election was a victory for the government. All nine government MPs were re-elected. Seven of nine opposition MPs were voted out. Speaker Kun was among those voted out.
Government MP Vassal Gadoengin was elected by parliament as speaker. Dogabe Jeremiah was elected deputy speaker. Scotty was re-elected president on 26 October. Scotty was elected unopposed after David Adeang and Valdon Dowiyogo declined nomination.