Parliament of Tuvalu
Encyclopedia
The Parliament of Tuvalu (Fale i Fono, also sometimes known as the House of Assembly) is the unicameral national legislature in Tuvalu
.
in 1975, three years before it officially gained independence. The Parliament of Tuvalu is rare among national legislatures in that it is nonpartisan in nature. It does tend to have both a distinct government and distinct opposition, but members often cross the floor between the two groups, resulting in a number of mid-term changes of government in recent years.
from among their ranks, who serves as head of the government. The Prime Minister then nominates four other members to serve in the governing Cabinet. The members of parliament also nominate a speaker of parliament, who presides over the parliament itself.
Any member of parliament may introduce legislation into parliament, but in practice, as in most partisan systems, this occurs mainly at the behest of the governing Cabinet. Legislation undergoes first, second and third readings before being presented to the Governor-General of Tuvalu
for assent, as in other Westminster system
s. One notable variation, however, means that legislation is constitutionally required to be presented to local governments (falekaupules) for review after the first reading; they may then propose amendments through their local member of parliament. Another particularly notable feature of Tuvalu
's Parliamentary life, shared by some other Pacific national parliaments such as that of Nauru
, is the frequent recourse to the vote of no confidence, which not unusually has at its origins some relatively obscure issue, sometimes linked to relations between personalities.
In May 2010, a consultation entitled “Promoting Women in Decision Making” was held in Funafuti
, in response to the fact that Parliament had no women MPs, and had had only one throughout its history (Naama Maheu Latasi
, from 1989 to 1997). The outcome was a recommendation for the introduction of two new seats, to be reserved for women. This followed the example of Papua New Guinea
, which had only one MP at that time, and whose Parliament was considering a bill to introduce twenty-two seats reserved for women. The Tuvaluan Ministry for Home Affairs, which has responsibility for women’s affairs, stated that steps would be taken to consider the recommendation.
. He was subsequently toppled and replaced by Apisai Ielemia
.
In the Tuvaluan general election, 2010
Prime Minister Ielemia retained his seat to win re-election from his Vaitupu
constituency. 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.
A secret ballot
to determine the next prime minister was held on September 29, 2010.
The Parliament of Tuvalu (Fale i Fono, also sometimes known as the House of Assembly) is the unicameral national legislature in Tuvalu
.
in 1975, three years before it officially gained independence. The Parliament of Tuvalu is rare among national legislatures in that it is nonpartisan in nature. It does tend to have both a distinct government and distinct opposition, but members often cross the floor between the two groups, resulting in a number of mid-term changes of government in recent years.
from among their ranks, who serves as head of the government. The Prime Minister then nominates four other members to serve in the governing Cabinet. The members of parliament also nominate a speaker of parliament, who presides over the parliament itself.
Any member of parliament may introduce legislation into parliament, but in practice, as in most partisan systems, this occurs mainly at the behest of the governing Cabinet. Legislation undergoes first, second and third readings before being presented to the Governor-General of Tuvalu
for assent, as in other Westminster system
s. One notable variation, however, means that legislation is constitutionally required to be presented to local governments (falekaupules) for review after the first reading; they may then propose amendments through their local member of parliament. Another particularly notable feature of Tuvalu
's Parliamentary life, shared by some other Pacific national parliaments such as that of Nauru
, is the frequent recourse to the vote of no confidence, which not unusually has at its origins some relatively obscure issue, sometimes linked to relations between personalities.
In May 2010, a consultation entitled “Promoting Women in Decision Making” was held in Funafuti
, in response to the fact that Parliament had no women MPs, and had had only one throughout its history (Naama Maheu Latasi
, from 1989 to 1997). The outcome was a recommendation for the introduction of two new seats, to be reserved for women. This followed the example of Papua New Guinea
, which had only one MP at that time, and whose Parliament was considering a bill to introduce twenty-two seats reserved for women. The Tuvaluan Ministry for Home Affairs, which has responsibility for women’s affairs, stated that steps would be taken to consider the recommendation."Support for introducing reserved seats into Tuvalu Parliament", Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, May 13, 2010
. He was subsequently toppled and replaced by Apisai Ielemia
.
In the Tuvaluan general election, 2010
Prime Minister Ielemia retained his seat to win re-election from his Vaitupu
constituency. In total, ten MPs were re-elected, including Speaker Kamuta Latasi
, while five incumbent MPs — including deputy Prime Minister Tavau Teii
— lost their seats."Tuvalu completes voting in national elections", Radio Australia, 16 September 2010. The announcement that ten sitting MPs had been re-elected was made by Speaker Kamuta Latasi
the following day."Tuvalu completes voting in national elections", Radio Australia, 16 September 2010.
A secret ballot
to determine the next prime minister was held on September 29, 2010.
The Parliament of Tuvalu (Fale i Fono, also sometimes known as the House of Assembly) is the unicameral national legislature in Tuvalu
.
in 1975, three years before it officially gained independence. The Parliament of Tuvalu is rare among national legislatures in that it is nonpartisan in nature. It does tend to have both a distinct government and distinct opposition, but members often cross the floor between the two groups, resulting in a number of mid-term changes of government in recent years.
from among their ranks, who serves as head of the government. The Prime Minister then nominates four other members to serve in the governing Cabinet. The members of parliament also nominate a speaker of parliament, who presides over the parliament itself.
Any member of parliament may introduce legislation into parliament, but in practice, as in most partisan systems, this occurs mainly at the behest of the governing Cabinet. Legislation undergoes first, second and third readings before being presented to the Governor-General of Tuvalu
for assent, as in other Westminster system
s. One notable variation, however, means that legislation is constitutionally required to be presented to local governments (falekaupules) for review after the first reading; they may then propose amendments through their local member of parliament. Another particularly notable feature of Tuvalu
's Parliamentary life, shared by some other Pacific national parliaments such as that of Nauru
, is the frequent recourse to the vote of no confidence, which not unusually has at its origins some relatively obscure issue, sometimes linked to relations between personalities.
In May 2010, a consultation entitled “Promoting Women in Decision Making” was held in Funafuti
, in response to the fact that Parliament had no women MPs, and had had only one throughout its history (Naama Maheu Latasi
, from 1989 to 1997). The outcome was a recommendation for the introduction of two new seats, to be reserved for women. This followed the example of Papua New Guinea
, which had only one MP at that time, and whose Parliament was considering a bill to introduce twenty-two seats reserved for women. The Tuvaluan Ministry for Home Affairs, which has responsibility for women’s affairs, stated that steps would be taken to consider the recommendation."Support for introducing reserved seats into Tuvalu Parliament", Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, May 13, 2010
. He was subsequently toppled and replaced by Apisai Ielemia
.
In the Tuvaluan general election, 2010
Prime Minister Ielemia retained his seat to win re-election from his Vaitupu
constituency. In total, ten MPs were re-elected, including Speaker Kamuta Latasi
, while five incumbent MPs — including deputy Prime Minister Tavau Teii
— lost their seats."Tuvalu completes voting in national elections", Radio Australia, 16 September 2010. The announcement that ten sitting MPs had been re-elected was made by Speaker Kamuta Latasi
the following day."Tuvalu completes voting in national elections", Radio Australia, 16 September 2010.
A secret ballot
to determine the next prime minister was held on September 29, 2010."New Prime Minister for Tuvalu", Australian Network News, 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."New Prime Minister for Tuvalu", Australian Network News, 29 September 2010 Toafa narrowly defeated Kausea Natano
, who received seven votes in the ballot."New Prime Minister for Tuvalu", Australian Network News, 29 September 2010 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."New Tuvalu PM Maatia Toafa names cabinet", ABC Radio Australia, September 29, 2010 Isaia Taeia Italeli, the younger brother of Governor General Iakopa Taeia Italeli
, became speaker of parliament.http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2327_E.htm
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...
.
History and political culture
It was first established when Tuvalu separated from the Gilbert and Ellice IslandsGilbert and Ellice Islands
The Gilbert and Ellice Islands were a British protectorate from 1892 and colony from 1916 until 1 January 1976, when the islands were divided into two different colonies which became independent nations shortly after...
in 1975, three years before it officially gained independence. The Parliament of Tuvalu is rare among national legislatures in that it is nonpartisan in nature. It does tend to have both a distinct government and distinct opposition, but members often cross the floor between the two groups, resulting in a number of mid-term changes of government in recent years.
Composition
The parliament has 15 members, each of which serve a four-year term. Each member is elected by popular vote one of eight island-based constituencies, seven of which elect two members, and one which elects only one member. Universal suffrage exists for those over eighteen years of age. The parliament is responsible for nominating the 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...
from among their ranks, who serves as head of the government. The Prime Minister then nominates four other members to serve in the governing Cabinet. The members of parliament also nominate a speaker of parliament, who presides over the parliament itself.
Any member of parliament may introduce legislation into parliament, but in practice, as in most partisan systems, this occurs mainly at the behest of the governing Cabinet. Legislation undergoes first, second and third readings before being presented to the Governor-General of Tuvalu
Governor-General of Tuvalu
The Governor-General of Tuvalu is the representative of Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Tuvalu, the nation's Head of State, and performs the duties of the Queen in her absence.-History:...
for assent, as in other Westminster system
Westminster System
The Westminster system is a democratic parliamentary system of government modelled after the politics of the United Kingdom. This term comes from the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
s. One notable variation, however, means that legislation is constitutionally required to be presented to local governments (falekaupules) for review after the first reading; they may then propose amendments through their local member of parliament. Another particularly notable feature 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...
's Parliamentary life, shared by some other Pacific national parliaments such as that of Nauru
Nauru
Nauru , officially the Republic of Nauru and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country in Micronesia in the South Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Kiribati, to the east. Nauru is the world's smallest republic, covering just...
, is the frequent recourse to the vote of no confidence, which not unusually has at its origins some relatively obscure issue, sometimes linked to relations between personalities.
In May 2010, a consultation entitled “Promoting Women in Decision Making” was held in Funafuti
Funafuti
Funafuti 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...
, in response to the fact that Parliament had no women MPs, and had had only one throughout its history (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). The outcome was a recommendation for the introduction of two new seats, to be reserved for women. This followed the example of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
, which had only one MP at that time, and whose Parliament was considering a bill to introduce twenty-two seats reserved for women. The Tuvaluan Ministry for Home Affairs, which has responsibility for women’s affairs, stated that steps would be taken to consider the recommendation.
2006 Elections
Elections for the parliament were held on August 3, 2006. The 2006 elections marked a noticeable change, with eight of the fifteen members being defeated, including the entire cabinet of then-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...
. He was subsequently toppled and replaced by Apisai Ielemia
Apisai Ielemia
Apisai Ielemia is a Tuvaluan politician. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 2006 to 2010.-Background:...
.
2010 Elections
Elections for the parliament were held on 16 September 2010.In the Tuvaluan general election, 2010
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...
Prime Minister Ielemia retained his seat to win re-election from his 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 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.
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 September 29, 2010.
The Parliament of Tuvalu (Fale i Fono, also sometimes known as the House of Assembly) is the unicameral national legislature 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...
.
History and political culture
It was first established when Tuvalu separated from the Gilbert and Ellice IslandsGilbert and Ellice Islands
The Gilbert and Ellice Islands were a British protectorate from 1892 and colony from 1916 until 1 January 1976, when the islands were divided into two different colonies which became independent nations shortly after...
in 1975, three years before it officially gained independence. The Parliament of Tuvalu is rare among national legislatures in that it is nonpartisan in nature. It does tend to have both a distinct government and distinct opposition, but members often cross the floor between the two groups, resulting in a number of mid-term changes of government in recent years.
Composition
The parliament has 15 members, each of which serve a four-year term. Each member is elected by popular vote one of eight island-based constituencies, seven of which elect two members, and one which elects only one member. Universal suffrage exists for those over eighteen years of age. The parliament is responsible for nominating the 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...
from among their ranks, who serves as head of the government. The Prime Minister then nominates four other members to serve in the governing Cabinet. The members of parliament also nominate a speaker of parliament, who presides over the parliament itself.
Any member of parliament may introduce legislation into parliament, but in practice, as in most partisan systems, this occurs mainly at the behest of the governing Cabinet. Legislation undergoes first, second and third readings before being presented to the Governor-General of Tuvalu
Governor-General of Tuvalu
The Governor-General of Tuvalu is the representative of Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Tuvalu, the nation's Head of State, and performs the duties of the Queen in her absence.-History:...
for assent, as in other Westminster system
Westminster System
The Westminster system is a democratic parliamentary system of government modelled after the politics of the United Kingdom. This term comes from the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
s. One notable variation, however, means that legislation is constitutionally required to be presented to local governments (falekaupules) for review after the first reading; they may then propose amendments through their local member of parliament. Another particularly notable feature 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...
's Parliamentary life, shared by some other Pacific national parliaments such as that of Nauru
Nauru
Nauru , officially the Republic of Nauru and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country in Micronesia in the South Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Kiribati, to the east. Nauru is the world's smallest republic, covering just...
, is the frequent recourse to the vote of no confidence, which not unusually has at its origins some relatively obscure issue, sometimes linked to relations between personalities.
In May 2010, a consultation entitled “Promoting Women in Decision Making” was held in Funafuti
Funafuti
Funafuti 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...
, in response to the fact that Parliament had no women MPs, and had had only one throughout its history (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). The outcome was a recommendation for the introduction of two new seats, to be reserved for women. This followed the example of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
, which had only one MP at that time, and whose Parliament was considering a bill to introduce twenty-two seats reserved for women. The Tuvaluan Ministry for Home Affairs, which has responsibility for women’s affairs, stated that steps would be taken to consider the recommendation."Support for introducing reserved seats into Tuvalu Parliament", Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, May 13, 2010
2006 Elections
Elections for the parliament were held on August 3, 2006. The 2006 elections marked a noticeable change, with eight of the fifteen members being defeated, including the entire cabinet of then-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...
. He was subsequently toppled and replaced by Apisai Ielemia
Apisai Ielemia
Apisai Ielemia is a Tuvaluan politician. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 2006 to 2010.-Background:...
.
2010 Elections
Elections for the parliament were held on 16 September 2010.In the Tuvaluan general election, 2010
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...
Prime Minister Ielemia retained his seat to win re-election from his 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 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."Tuvalu completes voting in national elections", Radio Australia, 16 September 2010. 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."Tuvalu completes voting in national elections", Radio Australia, 16 September 2010.
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 September 29, 2010.
The Parliament of Tuvalu (Fale i Fono, also sometimes known as the House of Assembly) is the unicameral national legislature 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...
.
History and political culture
It was first established when Tuvalu separated from the Gilbert and Ellice IslandsGilbert and Ellice Islands
The Gilbert and Ellice Islands were a British protectorate from 1892 and colony from 1916 until 1 January 1976, when the islands were divided into two different colonies which became independent nations shortly after...
in 1975, three years before it officially gained independence. The Parliament of Tuvalu is rare among national legislatures in that it is nonpartisan in nature. It does tend to have both a distinct government and distinct opposition, but members often cross the floor between the two groups, resulting in a number of mid-term changes of government in recent years.
Composition
The parliament has 15 members, each of which serve a four-year term. Each member is elected by popular vote one of eight island-based constituencies, seven of which elect two members, and one which elects only one member. Universal suffrage exists for those over eighteen years of age. The parliament is responsible for nominating the 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...
from among their ranks, who serves as head of the government. The Prime Minister then nominates four other members to serve in the governing Cabinet. The members of parliament also nominate a speaker of parliament, who presides over the parliament itself.
Any member of parliament may introduce legislation into parliament, but in practice, as in most partisan systems, this occurs mainly at the behest of the governing Cabinet. Legislation undergoes first, second and third readings before being presented to the Governor-General of Tuvalu
Governor-General of Tuvalu
The Governor-General of Tuvalu is the representative of Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Tuvalu, the nation's Head of State, and performs the duties of the Queen in her absence.-History:...
for assent, as in other Westminster system
Westminster System
The Westminster system is a democratic parliamentary system of government modelled after the politics of the United Kingdom. This term comes from the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
s. One notable variation, however, means that legislation is constitutionally required to be presented to local governments (falekaupules) for review after the first reading; they may then propose amendments through their local member of parliament. Another particularly notable feature 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...
's Parliamentary life, shared by some other Pacific national parliaments such as that of Nauru
Nauru
Nauru , officially the Republic of Nauru and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country in Micronesia in the South Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Kiribati, to the east. Nauru is the world's smallest republic, covering just...
, is the frequent recourse to the vote of no confidence, which not unusually has at its origins some relatively obscure issue, sometimes linked to relations between personalities.
In May 2010, a consultation entitled “Promoting Women in Decision Making” was held in Funafuti
Funafuti
Funafuti 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...
, in response to the fact that Parliament had no women MPs, and had had only one throughout its history (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). The outcome was a recommendation for the introduction of two new seats, to be reserved for women. This followed the example of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
, which had only one MP at that time, and whose Parliament was considering a bill to introduce twenty-two seats reserved for women. The Tuvaluan Ministry for Home Affairs, which has responsibility for women’s affairs, stated that steps would be taken to consider the recommendation."Support for introducing reserved seats into Tuvalu Parliament", Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, May 13, 2010
2006 Elections
Elections for the parliament were held on August 3, 2006. The 2006 elections marked a noticeable change, with eight of the fifteen members being defeated, including the entire cabinet of then-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...
. He was subsequently toppled and replaced by Apisai Ielemia
Apisai Ielemia
Apisai Ielemia is a Tuvaluan politician. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 2006 to 2010.-Background:...
.
2010 Elections
Elections for the parliament were held on 16 September 2010.In the Tuvaluan general election, 2010
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...
Prime Minister Ielemia retained his seat to win re-election from his 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 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."Tuvalu completes voting in national elections", Radio Australia, 16 September 2010. 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."Tuvalu completes voting in national elections", Radio Australia, 16 September 2010.
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 September 29, 2010."New Prime Minister for Tuvalu", Australian Network News, 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."New Prime Minister for Tuvalu", Australian Network News, 29 September 2010 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."New Prime Minister for Tuvalu", Australian Network News, 29 September 2010 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."New Tuvalu PM Maatia Toafa names cabinet", ABC Radio Australia, September 29, 2010 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.http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2327_E.htm
See also
- List of Speakers of the Parliament of Tuvalu
- Members of the Parliament of Tuvalu, 2006-2010Members of the Parliament of Tuvalu, 2006-2010This is a list of members of the Parliament of Tuvalu as elected at the 2006 election:-See also:*Politics of Tuvalu...