Prime Minister of Tuvalu
Encyclopedia
The Prime Minister of Tuvalu is the head of government
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...

 of Tuvalu
Tuvalu
Tuvalu , formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls...

. According to Tuvalu's constitution, the Prime Minister must always be a member of 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. The Governor-General of Tuvalu
Governor-General of Tuvalu
The Governor-General of Tuvalu is the representative of Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Tuvalu, the nation's Head of State, and performs the duties of the Queen in her absence.-History:...

 is responsible for conducting the election, and for proclaiming the winner.

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. The Prime Minister also always serves as the foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...

 of Tuvalu. 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 become governors-general of Tuvalu.

List of Prime Ministers of Tuvalu (1978-Present)

# Name Took Office Left Office
1 Sir Toaripi Lauti
Toaripi Lauti
Sir Toaripi Lauti, GCMG, PC was born Toalipi Lauti on November 28, 1928.-Pre-Independence career:He was the chief minister of Tuvalu, the former Ellice Islands, from October 2, 1975 to October 1, 1978. The Tuvalu archipelago, located about halfway between Australia and Hawaii, consists of six...

1 October 1978 8 September 1981
2 Sir Tomasi Puapua
Tomasi Puapua
Sir Tomasi Puapua, GCMG, KBE, PC is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu.-Prime minister:He was the second Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 1981-1989...

8 September 1981 16 October 1989
3 Bikenibeu Paeniu
Bikenibeu Paeniu
The Rt Hon Bikenibeu Paeniu is a politician from Tuvalu. He has served twice as the third Prime Minister of Tuvalu.-Political career:...

, 1st time
16 October 1989 10 December 1993
4 Sir Kamuta Latasi
Kamuta Latasi
Rt Hon Sir Kamuta Latasi KCMG, OBE, MP, PC is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu. Latasi served as the 4th Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 1993 until 1996. He has served as the Speaker of the Parliament of Tuvalu from 2006 to 2010....

10 December 1993 24 December 1996
Bikenibeu Paeniu
Bikenibeu Paeniu
The Rt Hon Bikenibeu Paeniu is a politician from Tuvalu. He has served twice as the third Prime Minister of Tuvalu.-Political career:...

, 2nd time
24 December 1996 27 April 1999
5 Ionatana Ionatana
Ionatana Ionatana
Ionatana Ionatana, CVO, OBE , was a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu. He was the fifth Prime Minister of Tuvalu from April 27, 1999, to December 8, 2000.-Background:...

27 April 1999 8 December 2000
Lagitupu Tuilimu
Lagitupu Tuilimu
The Rt Hon Lagitupu Tulimu is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu. He has served as the acting Prime Minister of Tuvalu.-Early political career:...

 (acting)
8 December 2000 24 February 2001
6 Faimalaga Luka
Faimalaga Luka
Faimalaga Luka was a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu. He served as Governor-General and the sixth Prime Minister of Tuvalu.-Background:...

24 February 2001 14 December 2001
7 Koloa Talake
Koloa Talake
The Rt Hon Koloa Talake is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu.-Prime Minister of Tuvalu:He served as the seventh Prime Minister of Tuvalu for nine months, 14 December 2001-2 August 2002, after defeating Faimalaga Luka in a vote of no confidence.Talake was defeated in elections in...

14 December 2001 2 August 2002
8 Saufatu Sopoanga
Saufatu Sopoanga
The Rt Hon Saufatu Sopoanga is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu. Sopoanga was the eighth Prime Minister and a foreign minister of Tuvalu.-Background:...

2 August 2002 27 August 2004
9 Maatia Toafa
Maatia Toafa
Maatia Toafa is a Tuvaluan politician, representing Nanumea who served two non-consecutive terms as Prime Minister of Tuvalu. He first served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2006, from the resignation of his predecessor, Saufatu Sopoanga, until the defeat of his Cabinet in the 2006 general election...

, 1st time
27 August 2004 14 August 2006
10 Apisai Ielemia
Apisai Ielemia
Apisai Ielemia is a Tuvaluan politician. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 2006 to 2010.-Background:...

14 August 2006 29 September 2010
Maatia Toafa
Maatia Toafa
Maatia Toafa is a Tuvaluan politician, representing Nanumea who served two non-consecutive terms as Prime Minister of Tuvalu. He first served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2006, from the resignation of his predecessor, Saufatu Sopoanga, until the defeat of his Cabinet in the 2006 general election...

, 2nd time
29 September 2010 24 December 2010
11 Willy Telavi
Willy Telavi
Willy Telavi is a Tuvaluan politician. He became Prime Minister of Tuvalu on 24 December 2010.-Background:Telavi is from Nanumea. His career in the Tuvalu Police Force culminated in his appointment as Police Commissioner in 1993, a position he held for thirteen years...

24 December 2010 Incumbent

See also

  • Governor-General of Tuvalu
    Governor-General of Tuvalu
    The Governor-General of Tuvalu is the representative of Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Tuvalu, the nation's Head of State, and performs the duties of the Queen in her absence.-History:...

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