Prime Minister of Tuvalu
| Prime Minister of Tuvalu | |
|---|---|
|
Coat of Arms of Tuvalu | |
| Appointer | Iakoba Italeli |
| Term length | At the Governor-General's pleasure |
| Inaugural holder | Toaripi Lauti |
| Formation | 1 October 1978 |
 |
| This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Tuvalu |
The Prime Minister of Tuvalu is the head of government of Tuvalu. According to Tuvalu's constitution, the prime minister must always be a member of the Parliament, and is elected by parliament in a secret ballot. Because there are no political parties in Tuvalu, any member of parliament can be nominated for the role. Following parliament vote the Governor-General of Tuvalu is responsible for swearing the prime minister in.
The office of prime minister was established when Tuvalu gained independence in 1978, although the post is sometimes considered to be a continuation of the earlier office of chief minister, which was created in 1975. If the prime minister dies, as has happened on one occasion, the deputy prime minister becomes acting prime minister until a new one is elected by parliament. The prime minister can lose his office by resigning, being defeated in a no confidence vote by parliament, or losing his seat in a parliamentary election.
Several former prime ministers have been appointed the Governor-General of Tuvalu.
Chief Minister of the Ellice Islands (1975–78)
| № | Name (Birth–Death) |
Tenure | Political Affiliation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took Office | Left Office | ||||
| 1 | Sir Toaripi Lauti (1928–2014) |
2 October 1975 | 1 October 1978 | Independent | |
Prime Ministers of Tuvalu (1978–present)
| № | Name (Birth–Death) |
Tenure | Political Affiliation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took Office | Left Office | ||||
| 1 | Sir Toaripi Lauti (1928–2014) |
1 October 1978 | 8 September 1981 | Independent | |
| 2 | Tomasi Puapua (1938–) |
8 September 1981 | 16 October 1989 | Independent | |
| 3 | Bikenibeu Paeniu (1956–) |
16 October 1989 | 10 December 1993 | Independent | |
| 4 | Sir Kamuta Latasi (1936–) |
10 December 1993 | 24 December 1996 | Independent | |
| (3) | Bikenibeu Paeniu (1956–) |
24 December 1996 | 27 April 1999 | Independent | |
| 5 | Ionatana Ionatana (1938–2000) |
27 April 1999 | 8 December 2000 | Independent | |
| N/A1 | Lagitupu Tuilimu | 8 December 2000 | 24 February 2001 | Independent | |
| 6 | Faimalaga Luka (1940–2005) |
24 February 2001 | 14 December 2001 | Independent | |
| 7 | Koloa Talake (1934–) |
14 December 2001 | 24 August 2002 | Independent | |
| 8 | Saufatu Sopoanga (1952–) |
24 August 2002 | 27 August 2004 | Independent | |
| 9 | Maatia Toafa (1954–) |
27 August 2004 | 14 August 2006 | Independent | |
| 10 | Apisai Ielemia (1955–) |
14 August 2006 | 29 September 2010 | Independent | |
| (9) | Maatia Toafa (1954–) |
29 September 2010 | 24 December 2010 | Independent | |
| 11 | Willy Telavi (1954–) |
24 December 2010 | 1 August 2013 | Independent | |
| 12 | Enele Sopoaga (1956–) |
1 August 2013 | Incumbent | Independent | |
- Notes
References
- ↑ "Tuvalu: Year In Review 2001". Britannica. 2001. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
- ↑ Lansford, Tom (2015). Political Handbook of the World 2015. CQ Press.
