Ludwig Derangadage Scotty (20 June 1948 – 25 February 2026) was a Nauruan politician who twice served as President of Nauru and was Speaker of Parliament five times between 2000 and 2016. He served as president from 29 May 2003 to 8 August 2003 and again from 22 June 2004 until his ousting in a vote of no confidence on 19 December 2007.
Scotty grew up in Anabar in the north of Nauru; he attended secondary school from 1960 until 1964 and studied law at the University of the South Pacific in the Fijian capital city Suva. On 15 March 1983, he was first elected to the Parliament for his district Anabar; in his longtime tenure as parliament member Scotty was the chairman of the Bank of Nauru, the Nauru Rehabilitation Corporation and in the board of directors of Air Nauru.
He served as Speaker of Parliament from April 2000 to March 2001, May 2001 to December 2002, February 2004 to April 2004, November 2010 to April 2013, and June 2013 to July 2016, while representing the Anabar district. He was appointed Minister Assisting the President of Nauru in the cabinet of Derog Gioura from March 2003 to May 2003.
Scotty died from a short illness on 25 February 2026, at the age of 77.
At the end of the short administration of Derog Gioura, Ludwig Scotty was elected President of Nauru by a parliamentary vote of 10–7, defeating Centre Party leader and former President Kinza Clodumar.
Scotty was ousted in a vote of no confidence in August 2003 and was replaced as president by René Harris.
Period in Opposition (2003–2004)
Scotty spent a short period in Opposition from August 2003 until June 2004, remaining a member of the Parliament of Nauru.
President of Nauru (2004–2007)
Scotty returned as president on 22 June 2004 after a member of Harris's faction of the Parliament of Nauru defected. Scotty was re-elected to Parliament in elections in October 2004, and most of his allies also did well. In this term, Scotty became the first president of Nauru to give up the foreign affairs ministry, as David Adeang was appointed to that position.
Scotty's government implemented major reforms to restore the country's economy.
Scotty and his supporters won in the parliamentary election held on 25 August 2007. On 28 August, Scotty was re-elected as president with the support of 14 of the 18 members of parliament, defeating Marcus Stephen.
The liberal use of Parliamentary no confidence motions, the occasion of many crises of government over several years, seemed initially to have subsided under Scotty's widely respected tenure of office. A constitutional review was being proceeded with, with a view to improving the functioning of Parliament and the offices of state.
On 13 November 2007, a motion of no-confidence against Scotty's government was unsuccessful; although a majority of those voting supported the motion (eight in favor, seven opposed), it fell short of the necessary nine votes. The motion was led by Kieren Keke, and it was based on allegations of misconduct on the part of Adeang and Scotty's unwillingness to act against Adeang.
On 19 December 2007, however, a newly comprised majority in Parliament did succeed in ousting President Scotty through a new vote of no confidence (ten votes in favour, seven opposed). The motion was based on the same causes as the November vote. Marcus Stephen was sworn in as President of Nauru.
Ludwig Scotty remained a member of the Parliament of Nauru, following the no-confidence defeat in Parliament of his administration in 2007. Coming as it did only a few months after the landslide victory of his supporters at the polls in August 2007, his relinquishing of office so soon afterwards can be seen in terms of an element of promise and expectations unfilled.
Scotty’s second administration (2004–2007) was noted by some commentators as a period of relative political stability compared to the upheavals that preceded and followed it. During this time, policies associated with economic austerity were implemented. In early 2008, both government and opposition figures referred to the constitutional review process initiated under Scotty as part of their political legacy.
In April 2008, Scotty stood again for the Parliament of Nauru and was reelected to serve as a member.