This is a list of members of the Parliament of Tuvalu or Palamene o Tuvalu who were elected at the 2015 Tuvaluan general election[1] or as the result of by-elections during the life of the parliament.
There are no formal parties in Tuvalu. The political system is based on personal alliances and loyalties derived from clan and family connections.[2] The Parliament of Tuvalu is rare among national legislatures in that it is non-partisan in nature. It does tend to have both a distinct government and a distinct opposition.[2]
The general election was held in Tuvalu on 31 March 2015.[3][4][5] The state of emergency created by Cyclone Pam resulted in the election being delayed twice. The election was originally scheduled for 19 March,[6] then after Cyclone Pam caused damage to the islands, the election was rescheduled.[7]
The constituencies of Niutao and Nui had contested ballots, including former members of parliament as candidates.[8][9] On Nui the sitting members were not returned to parliament.[10] On Nuitao Vete Sakaio, the deputy-prime minister, was not elected; the election was otherwise a good result for the government of Enele Sopoaga,[11] who expects to have the support of 11 members of parliament.[12] Enele Sopoaga was sworn in as prime minister and appointed the ministers to the cabinet on 10 April.[13][14][15]
Members elected for the first time at the 2015 general election are noted with *
| Name | National party | Constituency | # Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taukelina Finikaso | Independent | Vaitupu | |
| Apisai Ielemia | Independent | Vaitupu | The High Court declared that Ielemia was not qualified to be a member of parliament. |
| Isaia Vaipuna Taape * | Independent | Vaitupu | Elected at the Vaitupu by-election. |
| Monise Lafai | Independent | Nanumaga | |
| Otinielu Tausi | Independent | Nanumaga | Elected Speaker of the Parliament of Tuvalu. |
| Sir Kamuta Latasi | Independent | Funafuti | Sir Kamuta Latasi resigned as MP on 17 October 2018. |
| Simon Kofe * | Independent | Funafuti | Kofe was elected at the Funafuti by-election on 20 November 2018. |
| Kausea Natano | Independent | Funafuti | |
| Fauoa Maani | Independent | Niutao | |
| Samuelu Teo * | Independent | Niutao | |
| Elisala Pita | Independent | Nukufetau | Elected unopposed |
| Enele Sopoaga | Independent | Nukufetau | Elected unopposed |
| Namoliki Sualiki | Independent | Nukulaelae | Elected unopposed |
| Mackenzie Kiritome * | Independent | Nui | |
| Puakena Boreham * | Independent | Nui | |
| Satini Manuella | Independent | Nanumea | |
| Maatia Toafa | Independent | Nanumea |
Vaitupu by-election, 2017
editApisai Ielemia was elected to represent Vaitupu in the Tuvaluan general election, 2015. On 5 October 2016 Chief Justice Sweeney of the High Court of Tuvalu declared that Ielemia's parliamentary seat was vacant as he was no longer qualified to be a member of parliament, as the consequence of the short time the opposition MP served time in jail following his conviction on 6 May 2016 in the Magistrate's Court of charges of abuse of office during the final year of his term as Prime Minister (August 2006 to September 2010).[16]
The Vaitupu by-election was held on 17 July 2017. Isaia Vaipuna Taape was elected with about half the 1,100 votes, 41 votes ahead of Melton Paka Tauetia.[17] Taape was sworn in as a member of parliament for Vaitupu on Wednesday 16 August 2017.[18]
Funafuti by-election, 2018
editSir Kamuta Latasi resigned as MP on 17 October 2018. A by-election was held on 20 November 2018, with Simon Kofe, a former senior magistrate, being elected.[19]
References
edit- ^ Pua Pedro & Semi Malaki (1 April 2015). "Special Election Issue" (PDF). Fenui News. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ^ a b Hassall, Graham (2006). "The Tuvalu General Election 2006". Democracy and Elections project, Governance Program, University of the South Pacific. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ^ D’Unienville, Yvette (31 March 2015). "Tuvalu go to polls". Fenui News. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ^ "Tuvalu: Tropical Cyclone Pam Situation Report No. 2 (as of 30 March 2015)". Relief Web. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ^ "Tuvalu elections to take place on Tuesday". Radio New Zealand. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ^ "Two unopposed seats for Tuvalu election". Radio New Zealand. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "Tuvalu: Tropical Cyclone Pam Situation Report No. 1 (as of 22 March 2015)". Relief Web. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ "Candidates for 2015 General Election". Fenui News. 27 February 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
- ^ "Candidates for General Election for Nui Electoral District". Fenui News. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
- ^ "2015 General Election Results". Fenui News. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ^ "Election looks set to return Sopoaga as Tuvalu's PM". Radio New Zealand. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
- ^ "Sopoaga expects be sworn in as Tuvalu PM". Radio New Zealand. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
- ^ "Cabinet position could await new Tuvalu MP". Radio New Zealand. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
- ^ Malaki, Semi (16 April 2015). "Prime Minister Hon Enele Sosene Sopoaga named his Cabinet (Election Special No. 3)". Fenui News. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
- ^ "Cabinet of Tuvalu, 2015". Fenui News. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
- ^ Pareti, Samisoni. "Tuvalu demonstrate against top judge, former PM seeks re-election in Vaitupu seat". PINA/ISLANDS BUSINESS/PACNEWS. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- ^ "Isaia Taape wins bye-election", Pacific Islands News Association, 20 July 2017
- ^ "Honourable Isaia Vaipuna Taape sworn in". Fenui News. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
- ^ "Mr. Simon Kofe wins Funafuti bye-election". Fenui News. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2019.