Politics of Tuvalu
Encyclopedia
The politics of Tuvalu takes place in a framework of a parliamentary
representative democratic
monarchy
, whereby the Monarch
is the head of state
, represented by the Governor-General
, while the Prime Minister
is the head of government
. Executive power
is exercised by the government. Tuvalu is a non-partisan democracy
, and elections in Tuvalu take place without reference to formal political parties
.
|Elizabeth II
|
|6 February 1952
|-
|Governor-General
|Iakoba Italeli
|
|16 April 2010
|-
|Prime Minister
|Willy Telavi
|Independent
|24 December 2010
|}
Elizabeth II as the Queen of Tuvalu
, is the head of state
, represented by the Governor-General
, who is appointed by the Queen on advice of the Prime Minister of Tuvalu
. The Prime Minister is elected by the members of the Parliament
. The Cabinet
is appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime Minister.
consisting of a High Court and eight islands court
s. The rulings of the High Court can be appealed to the Fiji
Court of Appeal
.
, also called the House of Assembly
or Fale I Fono. It has fifteen seats; members are elected to serve four-year terms.
s every 4 years by universal adult suffrage
. There are no formal political parties so all candidates are non-partisan, and election campaigns are largely on the basis of personal/family ties and reputation. Tuvalu has "about 6,000 eligible voters" - a little over half the country's population.
Members of Parliament
have very close ties to the island they represent. Often the northern islands in the country compete against the southern islands with the center holding the balance of power
. Traditional chiefs also still play a significant role in influencing island affairs, particularly on the outer islands. A long-held distinction between chiefs and commoners is slowly disappearing, and chiefs are now more often selected on merit rather than by birth.
Tuvalu does not face serious governance issues. The frequent use of the parliamentary vote of no confidence, engendering many changes of government in relatively short periods, has sometimes been on issues which reflect on the relations between personalities rather than on pressing national issues.
After the death of prime minister Ionatana in late-2000, Tuvalu had four prime ministers in 4 years. This in part reflects the pressures affecting the small nation
, including the transition from an exchange economy
to a currency
-based economy, an inherited system of government with only limited regard to Tuvaluan tradition
s of decision making
.
Te Kakeega II is the statement of the national strategy for the sustainable development of Tuvalu, with goals intended to be achieved in the period 2005 to 2015. After consultations on each islands the National Summit on Sustainable Development (NSSD), was held at the Tausoalima Falekaupule in Funafuti from 28 June to 9 July 2004. The meeting resulted in the Malefatuga Declaration, which is the foundation of Te Kakeega II.
became the prime minister until he was replaced by [Koloa Talake]] after a vote of no confidence
in 2001.
Following the elections held in July 2002 six of the 15 members elected to Parliament were serving for the first time. Saufatu Sopoanga
, a former civil servant
, became prime minister in August 2002. It was expected that Tuvalu would have a period of political stability. However, Sapoanga was removed from office after two years and deputy prime minister Maatia Toafa
became prime minister in 2004.
Apisai Ielemia
became prime minister following the Tuvaluan general election, 2006
that was held on 3 August 2006. Many of the incumbent government ministers under the previous government of Maatia Toafa
lost their reelection bids for the Tuvaluan Parliament.
The Tuvaluan general election, 2010
is the most recent election. Parliament was dissolved on 13 August 2010, and registration began on 28 August 2010. Twenty-six candidates, including all sitting Members of Parliament, stood for the fifteen seats in Parliament. In total, ten MPs were re-elected, while five incumbent MPs lost their seats.
Approximately one and a half weeks after the 2010 general election, a secret ballot was held on 29 September 2010 to determine the country's next prime minister. Incumbent prime minister Apisai Ielemia
was not returned to a second term. Maatia Toafa
won the ballot with eight votes to become Tuvalu's next prime minister. Toafa narrowly defeated Kausea Natano
, who received the votes of seven MPs in the ballot. The election results were announced by Governor-General Iakoba Italeli
and Toafa took office the same day.
On 24 December 2010, after a motion of no confidence
, carried by eight votes to seven, Maatia Toafa
was replaced by Willy Telavi
as Prime Minister of Tuvalu
.
Minister of Works Isaia Italeli
died suddenly in July 2011, which led to a by-election in the Nui constituency
the following month. The election was won by his widow, Pelenike Isaia
, who became only the second woman ever to have sat in the Tuvaluan Parliament. The by-election was described as "pivotal", as Italeli's death had deprived Prime Minister Willy Telavi
of his government's one seat majority in Parliament. Pelenike Isaia's election restored it, strengthening the government.
(Te Mataili) provided by the Commonwealth of Australia under the Pacific Patrol Boat Program for use in maritime surveillance and fishery
patrol.
Parliamentary system
A parliamentary system is a system of government in which the ministers of the executive branch get their democratic legitimacy from the legislature and are accountable to that body, such that the executive and legislative branches are intertwined....
representative democratic
Representative democracy
Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principle of elected individuals representing the people, as opposed to autocracy and direct democracy...
monarchy
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
, whereby the Monarch
Monarchy of Tuvalu
The monarchy of Tuvalu is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign of Tuvalu. The present monarch of Tuvalu is Queen Elizabeth II. Tuvalu shares the sovereign with 15 other Commonwealth realms...
is the head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
, represented by the Governor-General
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:...
, while the Prime Minister
Prime Minister 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 Parliament, and is elected by Parliament in a secret ballot. Because there are no political parties in Tuvalu, any member of Parliament can be...
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...
. Executive power
Executive Power
Executive Power is Vince Flynn's fifth novel, and the fourth to feature Mitch Rapp, an American agent that works for the CIA as an operative for a covert counter terrorism unit called the "Orion Team."-Plot summary:...
is exercised by the government. Tuvalu is a non-partisan democracy
Non-partisan democracy
Nonpartisan democracy is a system of representative government or organization such that universal and periodic elections take place without reference to political parties.-Overview:...
, and elections in Tuvalu take place without reference to formal political parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
.
Executive branch
|Queen|Elizabeth II
|
|6 February 1952
|-
|Governor-General
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:...
|Iakoba Italeli
Iakoba Italeli
Sir Iakoba Taeia Italeli, GCMG, is a politician and the current Governor General of Tuvalu .-Political office:From 2006 to 2010 he was Minister of Education and Sports, and Health, in the government of the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Apisai Ielemia.-Constituency background:Italeli was elected to...
|
|16 April 2010
|-
|Prime Minister
Prime Minister 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 Parliament, and is elected by Parliament in a secret ballot. Because there are no political parties in Tuvalu, any member of Parliament can be...
|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...
|Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
|24 December 2010
|}
Elizabeth II as the Queen 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...
, is the head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
, represented by the Governor-General
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:...
, who is appointed by the Queen on advice of the Prime Minister of Tuvalu
Prime Minister 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 Parliament, and is elected by Parliament in a secret ballot. Because there are no political parties in Tuvalu, any member of Parliament can be...
. The Prime Minister is elected by the members of the Parliament
Parliament of Tuvalu
The Parliament of Tuvalu is the unicameral national legislature in Tuvalu.-History and political culture:...
. The Cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
is appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Judicial branch
Tuvalu maintains an independent judiciaryJudiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
consisting of a High Court and eight islands court
Court
A court is a form of tribunal, often a governmental institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law...
s. The rulings of the High Court can be appealed to the Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
Court of Appeal
Court of Appeals
A court of appeals is an appellate court generally.Court of Appeals may refer to:*Military Court of Appeals *Corte d'Assise d'Appello *Philippine Court of Appeals*High Court of Appeals of Turkey*United States courts of appeals...
.
Legislative branch
The legislative branch is the unicameral Parliament of TuvaluParliament of Tuvalu
The Parliament of Tuvalu is the unicameral national legislature in Tuvalu.-History and political culture:...
, also called the House of Assembly
House of Assembly
House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral parliament. In some countries this may be at a subnational level....
or Fale I Fono. It has fifteen seats; members are elected to serve four-year terms.
Democratic values in Tuvalu
Democratic values in Tuvalu are strong with free electionElection
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
s every 4 years by universal adult suffrage
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
. There are no formal political parties so all candidates are non-partisan, and election campaigns are largely on the basis of personal/family ties and reputation. Tuvalu has "about 6,000 eligible voters" - a little over half the country's population.
Members of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
have very close ties to the island they represent. Often the northern islands in the country compete against the southern islands with the center holding the balance of power
Balance of power (parliament)
In parliamentary politics, the term balance of power sometimes describes the pragmatic mechanism exercised by a minor political party or other grouping whose guaranteed support may enable an otherwise minority government to obtain and hold office...
. Traditional chiefs also still play a significant role in influencing island affairs, particularly on the outer islands. A long-held distinction between chiefs and commoners is slowly disappearing, and chiefs are now more often selected on merit rather than by birth.
Tuvalu does not face serious governance issues. The frequent use of the parliamentary vote of no confidence, engendering many changes of government in relatively short periods, has sometimes been on issues which reflect on the relations between personalities rather than on pressing national issues.
After the death of prime minister Ionatana in late-2000, Tuvalu had four prime ministers in 4 years. This in part reflects the pressures affecting the small nation
Microstate
A microstate or ministate is a sovereign state having a very small population or very small land area, but usually both. Some examples include Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, Nauru, Singapore, and Vatican City....
, including the transition from an exchange economy
Informal economy
The informal sector or informal economy as defined by governments, scholars, banks, etc. is the part of an economy that is not taxed, monitored by any form of government, or included in any gross national product , unlike the formal economy....
to a currency
Currency
In economics, currency refers to a generally accepted medium of exchange. These are usually the coins and banknotes of a particular government, which comprise the physical aspects of a nation's money supply...
-based economy, an inherited system of government with only limited regard to Tuvaluan tradition
Tradition
A tradition is a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society, still maintained in the present, with origins in the past. Common examples include holidays or impractical but socially meaningful clothes , but the idea has also been applied to social norms such as greetings...
s of decision making
Decision making
Decision making can be regarded as the mental processes resulting in the selection of a course of action among several alternative scenarios. Every decision making process produces a final choice. The output can be an action or an opinion of choice.- Overview :Human performance in decision terms...
.
Te Kakeega II is the statement of the national strategy for the sustainable development of Tuvalu, with goals intended to be achieved in the period 2005 to 2015. After consultations on each islands the National Summit on Sustainable Development (NSSD), was held at the Tausoalima Falekaupule in Funafuti from 28 June to 9 July 2004. The meeting resulted in the Malefatuga Declaration, which is the foundation of Te Kakeega II.
Political parties and elections
After the death of prime minister Ionatana in late-2000, Faimalaga LukaFaimalaga 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:...
became the prime minister until he was replaced by [Koloa Talake]] after a vote of no confidence
Motion of no confidence
A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...
in 2001.
Following the elections held in July 2002 six of the 15 members elected to Parliament were serving for the first time. 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:...
, a former civil servant
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
, became prime minister in August 2002. It was expected that Tuvalu would have a period of political stability. However, Sapoanga was removed from office after two years and deputy prime minister 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...
became prime minister in 2004.
Apisai Ielemia
Apisai Ielemia
Apisai Ielemia is a Tuvaluan politician. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 2006 to 2010.-Background:...
became prime minister following the Tuvaluan general election, 2006
Tuvaluan general election, 2006
General elections were held in Tuvalu on 3 August 2006 to elect fifteen members to the Parliament. All fifteen candidates elected were Independents, as there are no political parties in the country....
that was held on 3 August 2006. Many of the incumbent government ministers under the previous government of 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...
lost their reelection bids for the Tuvaluan Parliament.
The Tuvaluan general election, 2010
Tuvaluan general election, 2010
A parliamentary election was held in Tuvalu on 16 September 2010.Voters elected fifteen members of the Parliament to a four-year term. All candidates were independents, as there are no political parties in the country. Ten out of the fifteen incumbent members were re-elected. The remaining five...
is the most recent election. Parliament was dissolved on 13 August 2010, and registration began on 28 August 2010. Twenty-six candidates, including all sitting Members of Parliament, stood for the fifteen seats in Parliament. In total, ten MPs were re-elected, while five incumbent MPs lost their seats.
Approximately one and a half weeks after the 2010 general election, a secret ballot was held on 29 September 2010 to determine the country's next prime minister. Incumbent prime minister Apisai Ielemia
Apisai Ielemia
Apisai Ielemia is a Tuvaluan politician. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 2006 to 2010.-Background:...
was not returned to a second term. 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...
won the ballot with eight votes to become Tuvalu's next prime minister. Toafa narrowly defeated Kausea Natano
Kausea Natano
Kausea Natano is a Tuvaluan politician. He currently serves as MP for Funafuti and Minister for Communications in Prime Minister Willy Telavi's Cabinet.-Political career:Natano has been elected multiple times to the Parliament of Tuvalu....
, who received the votes of seven MPs in the ballot. The election results were announced by Governor-General Iakoba Italeli
Iakoba Italeli
Sir Iakoba Taeia Italeli, GCMG, is a politician and the current Governor General of Tuvalu .-Political office:From 2006 to 2010 he was Minister of Education and Sports, and Health, in the government of the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Apisai Ielemia.-Constituency background:Italeli was elected to...
and Toafa took office the same day.
On 24 December 2010, after a motion of no confidence
Motion of no confidence
A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...
, carried by eight votes to seven, 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...
was replaced by 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...
as Prime Minister of Tuvalu
Prime Minister 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 Parliament, and is elected by Parliament in a secret ballot. Because there are no political parties in Tuvalu, any member of Parliament can be...
.
Minister of Works Isaia Italeli
Isaia Italeli
Isaia Italeli Taeia , more commonly known as Isaia Italeli, was a Tuvaluan politician.He was elected to Parliament as MP for Nui in the September 2010 general election, at which time his elder brother, Sir Iakoba Italeli Taeia, was serving as Governor-General. On 29 September 2010, he was elected...
died suddenly in July 2011, which led to a by-election in the Nui constituency
Nui by-election, 2011
A by-election was held in the Nui constituency in Tuvalu on 24 August 2011. It was triggered by the death of the incumbent, MP Isaia Italeli, the Minister for Works, who died quite suddenly in late July while in Samoa on government business...
the following month. The election was won by his widow, Pelenike Isaia
Pelenike Isaia
Pelenike Tekinene Isaia is a Tuvaluan politician.She worked initially for the Tuvalu Cooperative Society, as its branch manager in Nui.Her career in national politics began when she won the August 2011 by-election for the constituency of Nui, and thus entered Parliament. The by-election had been...
, who became only the second woman ever to have sat in the Tuvaluan Parliament. The by-election was described as "pivotal", as Italeli's death had deprived Prime Minister 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...
of his government's one seat majority in Parliament. Pelenike Isaia's election restored it, strengthening the government.
Military
Tuvalu has no regular military forces, and spends no money on the military. Its police force includes a Maritime Surveillance Unit for search and rescue missions and surveillance operations. The police have a Pacific class patrol boatPacific class patrol boat
The Pacific class is a class of 22 patrol boats built by Australia and donated to twelve South Pacific countries. Constructed from 1985 to 1997 and operated by militaries, coast guards or police forces of the twelve island nations, these boats are supported by the Pacific Patrol Boat Program...
(Te Mataili) provided by the Commonwealth of Australia under the Pacific Patrol Boat Program for use in maritime surveillance and fishery
Fishery
Generally, a fishery is an entity engaged in raising or harvesting fish which is determined by some authority to be a fishery. According to the FAO, a fishery is typically defined in terms of the "people involved, species or type of fish, area of water or seabed, method of fishing, class of boats,...
patrol.