Lazarus Eitaro Salii (17 November 1936 – 20 August 1988) was a politician from Palau. He served as the second elected President of Palau from 25 October 1985 until his death by suicide on 20 August 1988, amid bribery allegations.

Salii was elected to the Senate of Micronesian Congress. He was involved in the Palau Constitutional Convention of 1978. After the Constitution took effect in 1981, he became an ambassador. As ambassador, he was given wide-ranging authority to negotiate with the U.S. ambassador. He was ambassador until 1984, when he became a senator, representing Koror in the Palau National Congress.

Lazarus Salii

When President Haruo Remeliik was assassinated on 30 June 1985, Salii was elected in August to finish his term of office (although Thomas Remengesau and then Alfonso Oiterong served in the interim). Following his suicide by gunshot in 1988, he was succeeded by Vice President Remengesau as president for the remainder of his term, followed by Ngiratkel Etpison as the fifth president.

Lazarus Salii

He was the elder brother of Carlos Salii.

Lazarus Salii

References

1936 births

1988 deaths

Politicians who died by suicide

Members of the Senate of Palau

Presidents of Palau

Suicides in Palau

Heads of state who committed suicide

People from Angaur

Deaths by firearm in Palau

Ambassadors of Palau

Members of the Congress of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

20th-century Palauan politicians