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:...