Saufatu Sopoanga
Encyclopedia
The Rt Hon Saufatu Sopoanga (born 22 February 1952, Nukufetau
Atoll, Tuvalu
) is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu
. Sopoanga was the eighth Prime Minister
and a foreign minister of Tuvalu
.
for the constituency of Nukufetau
, Sopoanga served as Finance Minister.
by MPs on 2 August 2002 after the general election in which previous prime minister Koloa Talake
lost his seat. In Tuvalu the Prime Minister is also the Foreign Minister.
There are no political parties in Tuvalu. Sapoanga had a shifting alliance of MPs who supported him, and there was also an opposition group against him. Both Sapoanga's group and the opposition group were plagued by defections. On 26 August 2004, while one of the 15 Members of Parliament was sick in New Zealand
and another had defected from Sapoanga's group, the opposition finally deposed Sapoanga in a no confidence vote, 8-6.
, and was no longer Prime Minister. He was re-elected to Parliament in October 2004, by a 420-361 vote in his electoral district of Nukufetau
island.
In the cabinet of his successor, Maatia Toafa
, he held the position of Deputy Prime Minister, as well as Minister for Communications & Transport and Minister for Works & Energy. At the August 2006 parliamentary elections he lost his seat in Parliament, and thus also his position in the cabinet.
Nukufetau
Nukufetau is an atoll that is part of the nation of Tuvalu. The atoll was claimed by the US under the Guano Islands Act some time in the 19th century and was ceded in a treaty of friendship concluded in 1979 and coming into force in 1983...
Atoll, 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 a political figure from the Pacific nation 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...
. Sopoanga was the eighth 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...
and a foreign minister 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...
.
Background
A member of the Parliament of TuvaluParliament of Tuvalu
The Parliament of Tuvalu is the unicameral national legislature in Tuvalu.-History and political culture:...
for the constituency of Nukufetau
Nukufetau
Nukufetau is an atoll that is part of the nation of Tuvalu. The atoll was claimed by the US under the Guano Islands Act some time in the 19th century and was ceded in a treaty of friendship concluded in 1979 and coming into force in 1983...
, Sopoanga served as Finance Minister.
Prime Minister of Tuvalu
Sopoanga was elected Prime Minister of TuvaluPrime 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...
by MPs on 2 August 2002 after the general election in which previous prime minister 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...
lost his seat. In Tuvalu the Prime Minister is also the Foreign Minister.
There are no political parties in Tuvalu. Sapoanga had a shifting alliance of MPs who supported him, and there was also an opposition group against him. Both Sapoanga's group and the opposition group were plagued by defections. On 26 August 2004, while one of the 15 Members of Parliament was sick in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and another had defected from Sapoanga's group, the opposition finally deposed Sapoanga in a no confidence vote, 8-6.
Resignation and subsequent career
On 27 August 2004, Sapoanga resigned from ParliamentParliament of Tuvalu
The Parliament of Tuvalu is the unicameral national legislature in Tuvalu.-History and political culture:...
, and was no longer Prime Minister. He was re-elected to Parliament in October 2004, by a 420-361 vote in his electoral district of Nukufetau
Nukufetau
Nukufetau is an atoll that is part of the nation of Tuvalu. The atoll was claimed by the US under the Guano Islands Act some time in the 19th century and was ceded in a treaty of friendship concluded in 1979 and coming into force in 1983...
island.
In the cabinet of his successor, 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...
, he held the position of Deputy Prime Minister, as well as Minister for Communications & Transport and Minister for Works & Energy. At the August 2006 parliamentary elections he lost his seat in Parliament, and thus also his position in the cabinet.