Nui by-election, 2011
Encyclopedia
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. Although there are no political parties in Tuvalu, Members of Parliament align themselves with the government or with the Opposition, and Italeli's death had resulted in Prime Minister
Willy Telavi
's government losing its one seat majority in Parliament
. The by-election was thus highly important to the government's survival.
Nui is a two seat constituency, and in the 2010 general election
it had returned Isaia Italeli and Taom Tanukale
with 24.6% and 23% of the vote respectively, ahead of three other candidates.
For the by-election, of course, only one seat would be provided for, Tanukale retaining the other. There were only two candidates: Pelenike Isaia
, Italeli's widow, who was the candidate supported by Telavi's government; and Leneuoti Maatusi, who had stood unsuccessfully during the general election. Pelenike Isaia was elected with a 62 vote majority, by 336 votes to 274. She declared that she hoped to accomplish what her husband had set out to do, and added that she would be supporting Telavi's government.
Her election made history, as she became only the second woman ever to sit in Tuvalu's Parliament, following Naama Maheu Latasi
from 1989 to 1997.
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
was held in the Nui constituency in 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...
on 24 August 2011. It was triggered by the death of the incumbent, MP
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,...
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...
, the Minister for Works, who died quite suddenly in late July while in Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
on government business. Although there are no political parties in Tuvalu, Members of Parliament align themselves with the government or with the Opposition, and Italeli's death had resulted in 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...
's government losing its one seat majority in Parliament
Parliament of Tuvalu
The Parliament of Tuvalu is the unicameral national legislature in Tuvalu.-History and political culture:...
. The by-election was thus highly important to the government's survival.
Nui is a two seat constituency, and 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...
it had returned Isaia Italeli and Taom Tanukale
Taom Tanukale
Taom Tanukale is a Tuvaluan politician.He began his career in national politics when he was elected to Parliament in a bye-election in May 2005, as MP for Nui, following the death of his predecessor...
with 24.6% and 23% of the vote respectively, ahead of three other candidates.
For the by-election, of course, only one seat would be provided for, Tanukale retaining the other. There were only two candidates: 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...
, Italeli's widow, who was the candidate supported by Telavi's government; and Leneuoti Maatusi, who had stood unsuccessfully during the general election. Pelenike Isaia was elected with a 62 vote majority, by 336 votes to 274. She declared that she hoped to accomplish what her husband had set out to do, and added that she would be supporting Telavi's government.
Her election made history, as she became only the second woman ever to sit in Tuvalu's Parliament, following Naama Maheu Latasi
Naama Maheu Latasi
Naama Maheu Latasi, Lady Latasi is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu.-Background and political office:She stood for election in the constituency of Nanumea in 1989 and was elected to the Parliament of Tuvalu...
from 1989 to 1997.