Tuvaluan general election, 2010
Encyclopedia
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 incumbents, including Deputy Prime Minister Tavau Teii
, did not retain their seats. The incumbent Prime Minister, Apisai Ielemia
, retained his seat in Vaitupu
constituency. On 29 September, Maatia Toafa
from Nanumea
won eight of the fifteen votes to become Prime Minister
.
in Tuvalu, so all candidates are non-partisan.
Twenty-six candidates, including all sitting Members of Parliament, stood for the fifteen seats in Parliament. Tuvalu has "about 6,000 eligible voters" - a little over half the country's population.
Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia
stated that he hoped to retain his position. Silafaga Lalua of Radio Tuvalu suggested that civil servant and diplomat
Enele Sopoaga
, former Tuvaluan permanent representative to the United Nations, seemed likely to obtain a seat in Parliament, and might even challenge successfully for the premiership. Sopoaga stood for election in the Nukufetau
constituency, and is reportedly considered a "national hero" for his diplomatic work at the Copenhagen Summit on climate change
in December 2009.
and Communications Minister Taukelina Finikaso
, who are relatives, stood for election in the same Vaitupu
constituency in the 2010 election. (The top two vote earners in Vaitupu are elected to parliament). Finikaso filed a complaint against Ielemia prior to the election, accusing the Prime Minister of distributing voter registration forms before the official registration date.
was reportedly strong. Voting began at 8 a.m. and closed at 4 p.m. before counting commenced at the country's twelve polling stations.
constituency. Ielemia's re-election prospects had been thought to be tenuous before the election.
In total, ten MPs were re-elected, including Speaker Kamuta Latasi
, while five incumbent MPs — including deputy Prime Minister Tavau Teii
— lost their seats. The announcement that ten sitting MPs had been re-elected was made by Speaker Kamuta Latasi
the following day.
Candidates in boldface were elected:
A secret ballot
to determine the next prime minister was held on 29 September 2010. Maatia Toafa
, who had served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2006 and the Leader of the Opposition from 2006 to 2010, won the ballot with five new members and three members of the previous government, to become Tuvalu's next prime minister. Toafa narrowly defeated Kausea Natano
, who received seven votes in the ballot. Toafa took office on the day of his election and named his Cabinet
almost immediately. He included a number of first time MPs who had supported his bid for the premiership - including Enele Sopoaga
, who became Minister for Foreign Affairs. Isaia Taeia Italeli, the younger brother of Governor General Iakopa Taeia Italeli
, became speaker of parliament.
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.
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...
on 16 September 2010.
Voters elected fifteen members of the Parliament
Parliament of Tuvalu
The Parliament of Tuvalu is the unicameral national legislature in Tuvalu.-History and political culture:...
to a four-year term. All candidates were independents
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...
, as there are no political parties
Party Politics
Party Politics is a peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes papers in the field of Political Science. The journal's editors are David M Farrell and Paul Webb...
in the country. Ten out of the fifteen incumbent members were re-elected. The remaining five incumbents, including Deputy Prime Minister Tavau Teii
Tavau Teii
-Background:Teii is from Niutao and he stood for the Parliament of Tuvalu in, and was elected from, the constituency of Niutao.-Deputy Prime Minister of Tuvalu:He was Deputy Prime Minister of Tuvalu in the Government of Apisai Ielemia...
, did not retain their seats. The 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:...
, retained his seat in Vaitupu
Vaitupu
Vaitupu is an atoll, which is part of the nation of Tuvalu.Vaitupu, the largest atoll of Tuvalu is located at 7.48 degrees south and 178.83 degrees west. The capital is Asau.-History:...
constituency. On 29 September, 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...
from Nanumea
Nanumea
Nanumea is the northwesternmost atoll in the Polynesian nation of Tuvalu, a group of nine coral atolls and islands spread over about four hundred miles of Pacific Ocean just south of the equator and west of the International Date Line.-Geography:...
won eight of the fifteen votes to become 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...
.
Background
Parliament was dissolved on 13 August, and registration began on 28 August. There are no political partiesPolitical Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
in Tuvalu, so all candidates are non-partisan.
Twenty-six candidates, including all sitting Members of Parliament, stood for the fifteen seats in Parliament. Tuvalu has "about 6,000 eligible voters" - a little over half the country's population.
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:...
stated that he hoped to retain his position. Silafaga Lalua of Radio Tuvalu suggested that civil servant and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
Enele Sopoaga
Enele Sopoaga
Enele Sosene Sopoaga is a Tuvaluan diplomat and politician. His served as deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Environment and Labour in Prime Minister Maatia Toafa's short-lived government from September to December 2010...
, former Tuvaluan permanent representative to the United Nations, seemed likely to obtain a seat in Parliament, and might even challenge successfully for the premiership. Sopoaga stood for election in the 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...
constituency, and is reportedly considered a "national hero" for his diplomatic work at the Copenhagen Summit on climate change
2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference
The 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference, commonly known as the Copenhagen Summit, was held at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, Denmark, between 7 December and 18 December. The conference included the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate...
in December 2009.
Controversy
Prime Minister Apisai IelemiaApisai Ielemia
Apisai Ielemia is a Tuvaluan politician. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 2006 to 2010.-Background:...
and Communications Minister Taukelina Finikaso
Taukelina Finikaso
Taukelina Finikaso is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu.At the 2006 general election, he was elected MP for his home constituency of Vaitupu...
, who are relatives, stood for election in the same Vaitupu
Vaitupu
Vaitupu is an atoll, which is part of the nation of Tuvalu.Vaitupu, the largest atoll of Tuvalu is located at 7.48 degrees south and 178.83 degrees west. The capital is Asau.-History:...
constituency in the 2010 election. (The top two vote earners in Vaitupu are elected to parliament). Finikaso filed a complaint against Ielemia prior to the election, accusing the Prime Minister of distributing voter registration forms before the official registration date.
Results
There were 6,008 registered voters in the election, and voter turnoutVoter turnout
Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election . After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1960s...
was reportedly strong. Voting began at 8 a.m. and closed at 4 p.m. before counting commenced at the country's twelve polling stations.
Results by constituency
Prime Minister Ielemia retained his seat to win re-election from his VaitupuVaitupu
Vaitupu is an atoll, which is part of the nation of Tuvalu.Vaitupu, the largest atoll of Tuvalu is located at 7.48 degrees south and 178.83 degrees west. The capital is Asau.-History:...
constituency. Ielemia's re-election prospects had been thought to be tenuous before the election.
In total, ten MPs were re-elected, including Speaker 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....
, while five incumbent MPs — including deputy Prime Minister Tavau Teii
Tavau Teii
-Background:Teii is from Niutao and he stood for the Parliament of Tuvalu in, and was elected from, the constituency of Niutao.-Deputy Prime Minister of Tuvalu:He was Deputy Prime Minister of Tuvalu in the Government of Apisai Ielemia...
— lost their seats. The announcement that ten sitting MPs had been re-elected was made by Speaker 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....
the following day.
Candidates in boldface were elected:
Formation of new government
Speaker Latasi originally announced that all fifteen MPs will meet the following week to form a new government. However, the election of a new Prime Minister would not be held until 29 September 2010. Incumbent Apisai Ielemia, who became caretaker prime minister after the election, hoped to form a new government, though he ultimately did not have the support in the new parliament.A secret ballot
Secret ballot
The secret ballot is a voting method in which a voter's choices in an election or a referendum are anonymous. The key aim is to ensure the voter records a sincere choice by forestalling attempts to influence the voter by intimidation or bribery. The system is one means of achieving the goal of...
to determine the next prime minister was held on 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...
, who had served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2006 and the Leader of the Opposition from 2006 to 2010, won the ballot with five new members and three members of the previous government, 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 seven votes in the ballot. Toafa took office on the day of his election and named his Cabinet
Cabinet of Tuvalu
The Cabinet of Tuvalu is the executive branch of the government of Tuvalu.It is drawn from, and responsible to, the legislative branch, the monocameral Fale i Fono. After every legislative election, Members of Parliament elect one of their own as Prime Minister. The latter then chooses his...
almost immediately. He included a number of first time MPs who had supported his bid for the premiership - including Enele Sopoaga
Enele Sopoaga
Enele Sosene Sopoaga is a Tuvaluan diplomat and politician. His served as deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Environment and Labour in Prime Minister Maatia Toafa's short-lived government from September to December 2010...
, who became Minister for Foreign Affairs. Isaia Taeia Italeli, the younger brother of Governor General Iakopa Taeia 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...
, became speaker of parliament.
Subsequent by-election
Minister of Works Isaia ItaleliIsaia 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.