# Bailey Olter becomes third President (11 May 1991)

URL: https://allhistories.com/micronesia/timeline/1991-bailey-olter-becomes-third-president
Location: Palikir, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia
Themes: ruler-change

Bailey Olter, born on Mokil Atoll in 1932, served as the third President of the Federated States of Micronesia from 11 May 1991 to 8 November 1996. Parliamentary elections had been held on 5 March 1991, when all candidates ran as independents, and Congress chose him to follow the second President. Jacob Nena of Kosrae was Vice President. Olter had been Vice President from 11 May 1983 to 11 May 1987 under the first President. He was re-elected in March 1995, though Wikipedia's election page notes that some sources give 7 March and others 20 March for the vote. He was Vice President under the first President, a post to which Congress elected him in 1983. His presidency saw the FSM join the United Nations in September 1991, the founding of the national college in 1993 and the first economic reforms of 1996. His term ended when a stroke in July 1996 stopped him from performing his duties. He died on 16 February 1999 in Kolonia. At this point in the timeline (1991), Bailey Olter (11 May 1991 – 7 Nov 1996) held the office of President of the Federated States of Micronesia, combining the roles of head of state and head of government (the FSM has no prime minister).

## Why it matters
It moved the presidency from Chuuk and Yap to Pohnpei and put a former Vice President in the office.

Ruler at the Time: [Bailey Olter](https://allhistories.com/micronesia/rulers/bailey-olter-58)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Bailey Olter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bailey_Olter)
- [Wikipedia — 1991 Micronesian general election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_Micronesian_general_election)
- [Wikipedia — 1995 Micronesian general election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995_Micronesian_general_election)