List of Tuvalu MPs, 2015–2019

This is a list of members of the Parliament of Tuvalu or Palamene o Tuvalu who were elected at the 2015 Tuvaluan general election[1] or as the result of by-elections during the life of the parliament.

There are no formal parties in Tuvalu. The political system is based on personal alliances and loyalties derived from clan and family connections.[2] The Parliament of Tuvalu is rare among national legislatures in that it is non-partisan in nature. It does tend to have both a distinct government and a distinct opposition.[2]

Main articles: Politics of Tuvalu and Elections and political parties in Tuvalu

The general election was held in Tuvalu on 31 March 2015.[3][4][5] The state of emergency created by Cyclone Pam resulted in the election being delayed twice. The election was originally scheduled for 19 March,[6] then after Cyclone Pam caused damage to the islands, the election was rescheduled.[7]

The constituencies of Niutao and Nui had contested ballots, including former members of parliament as candidates.[8][9] On Nui the sitting members were not returned to parliament.[10] On Nuitao Vete Sakaio, the deputy-prime minister, was not elected; the election was otherwise a good result for the government of Enele Sopoaga,[11] who expects to have the support of 11 members of parliament.[12] Enele Sopoaga was sworn in as prime minister and appointed the ministers to the cabinet on 10 April.[13][14][15]

Members elected for the first time at the 2015 general election are noted with *

Name National party Constituency # Notes
Taukelina Finikaso   Independent Vaitupu
Apisai Ielemia   Independent Vaitupu The High Court declared that Ielemia was not qualified to be a member of parliament.
Isaia Vaipuna Taape *   Independent Vaitupu Elected at the Vaitupu by-election.
Monise Lafai   Independent Nanumaga
Otinielu Tausi   Independent Nanumaga Elected Speaker of the Parliament of Tuvalu.
Sir Kamuta Latasi   Independent Funafuti Sir Kamuta Latasi resigned as MP on 17 October 2018.
Simon Kofe *   Independent Funafuti Kofe was elected at the Funafuti by-election on 20 November 2018.
Kausea Natano   Independent Funafuti
Fauoa Maani   Independent Niutao
Samuelu Teo *   Independent Niutao
Elisala Pita   Independent Nukufetau Elected unopposed
Enele Sopoaga   Independent Nukufetau Elected unopposed
Namoliki Sualiki   Independent Nukulaelae Elected unopposed
Mackenzie Kiritome *   Independent Nui
Puakena Boreham *   Independent Nui
Satini Manuella   Independent Nanumea
Maatia Toafa   Independent Nanumea

Vaitupu by-election, 2017

Apisai Ielemia was elected to represent Vaitupu in the Tuvaluan general election, 2015. On 5 October 2016 Chief Justice Sweeney of the High Court of Tuvalu declared that Ielemia's parliamentary seat was vacant as he was no longer qualified to be a member of parliament, as the consequence of the short time the opposition MP served time in jail following his conviction on 6 May 2016 in the Magistrate's Court of charges of abuse of office during the final year of his term as Prime Minister (August 2006 to September 2010).[16]

The Vaitupu by-election was held on 17 July 2017. Isaia Vaipuna Taape was elected with about half the 1,100 votes, 41 votes ahead of Melton Paka Tauetia.[17] Taape was sworn in as a member of parliament for Vaitupu on Wednesday 16 August 2017.[18]

Funafuti by-election, 2018

Sir Kamuta Latasi resigned as MP on 17 October 2018. A by-election was held on 20 November 2018, with Simon Kofe, a former senior magistrate, being elected.[19]

References

  1. ^ Pua Pedro & Semi Malaki (1 April 2015). "Special Election Issue" (PDF). Fenui News. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  2. ^ a b Hassall, Graham (2006). "The Tuvalu General Election 2006". Democracy and Elections project, Governance Program, University of the South Pacific. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  3. ^ D’Unienville, Yvette (31 March 2015). "Tuvalu go to polls". Fenui News. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  4. ^ "Tuvalu: Tropical Cyclone Pam Situation Report No. 2 (as of 30 March 2015)". Relief Web. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  5. ^ "Tuvalu elections to take place on Tuesday". Radio New Zealand. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  6. ^ "Two unopposed seats for Tuvalu election". Radio New Zealand. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  7. ^ "Tuvalu: Tropical Cyclone Pam Situation Report No. 1 (as of 22 March 2015)". Relief Web. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  8. ^ "Candidates for 2015 General Election". Fenui News. 27 February 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  9. ^ "Candidates for General Election for Nui Electoral District". Fenui News. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  10. ^ "2015 General Election Results". Fenui News. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  11. ^ "Election looks set to return Sopoaga as Tuvalu's PM". Radio New Zealand. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  12. ^ "Sopoaga expects be sworn in as Tuvalu PM". Radio New Zealand. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  13. ^ "Cabinet position could await new Tuvalu MP". Radio New Zealand. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  14. ^ Malaki, Semi (16 April 2015). "Prime Minister Hon Enele Sosene Sopoaga named his Cabinet (Election Special No. 3)". Fenui News. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  15. ^ "Cabinet of Tuvalu, 2015". Fenui News. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  16. ^ Pareti, Samisoni. "Tuvalu demonstrate against top judge, former PM seeks re-election in Vaitupu seat". PINA/ISLANDS BUSINESS/PACNEWS. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  17. ^ "Isaia Taape wins bye-election", Pacific Islands News Association, 20 July 2017
  18. ^ "Honourable Isaia Vaipuna Taape sworn in". Fenui News. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  19. ^ "Mr. Simon Kofe wins Funafuti bye-election". Fenui News. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
Preceded by Parliament of Tuvalu
2015–2019 		Succeeded by