Apisai Ielemia
Encyclopedia
Apisai Ielemia is a Tuvalu
an politician
. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Tuvalu
from 2006 to 2010.
by the constituency of Vaitupu
on a non-partisan basis: his lack of alignment is not unusual in the politics of Tuvalu
, since political parties have not emerged in the country.
's government was defeated and opposition MP Ielemia was approved by the new parliament on August 14 to become the new prime minister. He also became foreign minister
.
Ielemia has continued Tuvalu's pursuit of close relations with Republic of China
, and in December 2007 visited that country, when various bilateral issues were addressed. He gained a higher international profile during the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference
in Copenhagen by highlighting the dangers of rising sea levels. In September 2008 Ielemia and the President
of Kiribati
, Anote Tong
, attended a conference to improve relations with Cuba.
Ielemia was one of 10 MPs who were re-elected to their parliamentary seat in the 2010 general election
.
's government was ousted in a vote of no confidence, and Willy Telavi
was elected to the premiership by a slender majority in Parliament (eight votes to seven). Ielemia was among Telavi's supporters, and was appointed to Telavi's Cabinet
as Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Environment, Trade, Labour and Tourism.
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...
an politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He served as the tenth 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...
from 2006 to 2010.
Background
Ielemia was elected to serve in the Parliament of TuvaluParliament of Tuvalu
The Parliament of Tuvalu is the unicameral national legislature in Tuvalu.-History and political culture:...
by the constituency of 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:...
on a non-partisan basis: his lack of alignment is not unusual in the politics of Tuvalu
Politics of Tuvalu
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...
, since political parties have not emerged in the country.
Prime Minister of Tuvalu
In general elections held on August 3, 2006 prime minister Maatia ToafaMaatia 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...
's government was defeated and opposition MP Ielemia was approved by the new parliament on August 14 to become the new prime minister. He also became 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...
.
Ielemia has continued Tuvalu's pursuit of close relations with Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
, and in December 2007 visited that country, when various bilateral issues were addressed. He gained a higher international profile during the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference
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 Copenhagen by highlighting the dangers of rising sea levels. In September 2008 Ielemia and the President
President of Kiribati
The President of Kiribati is the head of state and head of government of Kiribati.Following a general election, by which citizens elect the members of the House of Assembly, members select from their midst "not less than 3 nor more than 4 candidates" for the presidency. No other person may stand...
of Kiribati
Kiribati
Kiribati , officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The permanent population exceeds just over 100,000 , and is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, straddling the...
, Anote Tong
Anote Tong
Anote Tong is an I-Kiribati politician with Chinese heritage. He is the current President of Kiribati. He won the election in July 2003 with a slim plurality of votes cast against his brother, Dr. Harry Tong and the private lawyer Banuera Berina...
, attended a conference to improve relations with Cuba.
Prospects for stability
In a country which had in recent years seen frequent changes of government through the use of the parliamentary no confidence device, Ielemia's government, in office since 2006, seemed at the beginning of 2009 to offer somewhat of a rarity: the prospect of a government of Tuvalu running somewhat of its full course. Prior to Ielemia's appointment as Prime Minister, the average length of Prime Ministerial terms of office had been considerably shorter; this experience served as an indicator of the relative stability of his government, and by extension, the underlying parliamentary system which supported it.Ielemia was one of 10 MPs who were re-elected to their parliamentary seat in the 2010 general election
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...
.
Government Members
As of September 2006, the government of Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia consisted of the following members http://www.tuvaluislands.com/news/archives/2006/2006-08-14.htm- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources: Hon. Tavau TeiiTavau 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...
- represents NiutaoNiutaoNiutao is a reef island in the northern part of Tuvalu. It is one of the nine districts of Tuvalu, and one of the three who consist of only one island, not counting the three islets inside the closed lagoon. Niutao has a population of 663 .-Geography:There are two lakes , which are brackish to... - House Speaker: Hon. Sir Kamuta LatasiKamuta LatasiRt 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....
- represents FunafutiFunafutiFunafuti is an atoll that forms the capital of the island nation of Tuvalu. It has a population of 4,492 , making it the most populated atoll in the country. It is a narrow sweep of land between 20 and 400 metres wide, encircling a large lagoon 18 km long and 14 km wide, with a surface of... - Minister of Home Affairs: Hon. Willy TelaviWilly TelaviWilly 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...
- represents NanumeaNanumeaNanumea 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:... - Minister of Finance & Economic Planning: Hon. Lotoala MetiaLotoala MetiaLotoala Metia is a Tuvaluan politician.He was first elected to Parliament at the 2006 general election, as MP for Nukufetau. He was then appointed Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Industries in Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia's Cabinet....
- represents NukufetauNukufetauNukufetau 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... - Minister of Public Works, Water & Energy: Hon. Kausea NatanoKausea NatanoKausea 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....
- represents FunafutiFunafutiFunafuti is an atoll that forms the capital of the island nation of Tuvalu. It has a population of 4,492 , making it the most populated atoll in the country. It is a narrow sweep of land between 20 and 400 metres wide, encircling a large lagoon 18 km long and 14 km wide, with a surface of... - Minister of Communications, Transportation & Tourism: Hon. Taukelina FinikasoTaukelina FinikasoTaukelina 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...
- represents VaitupuVaitupuVaitupu 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:... - Minister of Education, Youth & Sports: Hon Falesa PitoiFalesa PitoiDr. Falesa Pitoi is a Tuvaluan politician.A dentist by profession, he began his career in national politics when he was elected to Parliament in the August 2006 general election as MP for Nanumaga. He then served for a time as Minister for Education under Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia.He was...
- represents Nanumaga - Minister of Health: Hon. Iakoba ItaleliIakoba ItaleliSir 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...
- represents Nui - Chairman of the Caucus: Hon. Sir Tomu SioneTomu SioneSir Tomu Malaefone Sione, GCMG, OBE, is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu.-Governor-General:Sione served as Governor-General of Tuvalu from 1993–1994, as the representative of HM Queen Elizabeth II, who is Tuvalu's head of state....
- represents NiutaoNiutaoNiutao is a reef island in the northern part of Tuvalu. It is one of the nine districts of Tuvalu, and one of the three who consist of only one island, not counting the three islets inside the closed lagoon. Niutao has a population of 663 .-Geography:There are two lakes , which are brackish to...
Subsequent political career
In December 2010, Prime Minister Maatia ToafaMaatia 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...
's government was ousted in a vote of no confidence, and 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...
was elected to the premiership by a slender majority in Parliament (eight votes to seven). Ielemia was among Telavi's supporters, and was appointed to Telavi's 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...
as Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Environment, Trade, Labour and Tourism.
External links
- "A threat to our human rights: Tuvalu's perspective on climate change", Apisai Ielemia, UN ChronicleUN ChronicleThe UN Chronicle is a quarterly publication of the Outreach Division of the United Nations Department of Public Information, reporting on issues such as human rights, economic development, peacekeeping, health, refugees, programs and activities of the UN and regional issues...
, June 2007 - Tuvalu News: Article regarding appointment of Ielemia's government in 2006
- East West Center: Article regarding Ielemia's Taiwan visit, December 2007