2010 Tuvaluan general election

Parliament was dissolved on 13 August 2010, and registration began on 28 August.{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=55268 |title=Tuvalu Parliament to be dissolved tomorrow ahead of elections in five weeks |publisher=Radio New Zealand International |date=12 August 2010 |accessdate=13 August 2010}} There are no political parties in Tuvalu, so all candidates are non-partisan.{{cite news|first=Robert|last=Matau|title=Politics: Changing Leadership?|url=http://www.islandsbusiness.com/islands_business/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=19316/overideSkinName=issueArticle-full.tpl?PHPSESSID=c6196675b6777193bc96ea7442cc80d8|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120524155738/http://www.islandsbusiness.com/islands_business/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=19316/overideSkinName=issueArticle-full.tpl?PHPSESSID=c6196675b6777193bc96ea7442cc80d8|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 May 2012|work=Islands Business|year=2010|accessdate=17 September 2010}}

Twenty-six candidates, including all sitting Members of Parliament, stood for the fifteen seats in Parliament.{{cite news |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=55879 |title=Tuvalu gears up for parliamentary elections |date=15 September 2010 |work=Radio New Zealand International |accessdate=25 November 2011}} Tuvalu has "about 6,000 eligible voters" – a little over half the country's population.[https://archive.today/20130124231101/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g_vabC-tHeSX-muzn3TM9M3LhXRA "Tuvalu goes to the polls"], Agence France Presse, 16 September 2010.[http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201009/s3013957.htm "Tuvalu completes voting in national elections"], Radio Australia, 16 September 2010.

Many candidates focused on climate change issues including Enele Sopoaga, a former Tuvalu Ambassador to the United Nations and Tuvalu's representative at the UN Climate Change Conference held in Copenhagen in 2009.[http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201009/s3013957.htm "Tuvalu completes voting in national elections"], Radio Australia, 16 September 2010[http://24hdanslepacifique.com/breves-du-pacifique-497/ "Elections à Tuvalu"] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20111006032234/http://24hdanslepacifique.com/breves-du-pacifique-497/ |date=6 October 2011 }}, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (French), 17 September 2010. 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. Enele Sopoaga was elected by the voters of Nukufetau.

Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia 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.

{{Main|List of Tuvalu MPs, 2010–2015}}

There were 6,008 registered voters in the election, and voter turnout was reportedly strong.{{cite news|title=Tuvalu PM, speaker retain seats as deputy PM crashes out|url=http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201009/s3014232.htm|work=Radio Australia |date=17 September 2010|accessdate=17 September 2010}} Voting began at 8 a.m. and closed at 4 p.m. before counting commenced at the country's twelve polling stations.{{cite news|title=Tuvalu prepares for Friday national poll|url=http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=130/focusContentID=20884/tableName=mediaRelease/overideSkinName=newsArticle-full.tpl?PHPSESSID=2f82a9892cbb1972fd1420bc2a5edaea|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126120107/http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=130/focusContentID=20884/tableName=mediaRelease/overideSkinName=newsArticle-full.tpl?PHPSESSID=2f82a9892cbb1972fd1420bc2a5edaea|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 January 2013|work=Islands Business|date=15 September 2010|accessdate=17 September 2010}}

Prime Minister Ielemia retained his seat to win re-election from his Vaitupu 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.{{cite news|title=Tuvalu PM re-elected, seeks to form govt |url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/tuvalu-pm-reelected-seeks-to-form-govt-20100917-15f3f.html|work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=17 September 2010|accessdate=17 September 2010}}

Speaker Latasi originally announced that all fifteen MPs would meet the following week to form a new government. However, the election of a new Prime Minister was not held until 29 September 2010.{{cite news|title=Tuvaluan Prime Minister to be named Wednesday|url=http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201009/3023083.htm?desktop|work=Radio Australia|date=27 September 2010|accessdate=27 September 2010|archive-date=17 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717130057/http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201009/3023083.htm?desktop|url-status=usurped}} 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. Enele Sopoaga was reported as being a possible challenger for the premiership.

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 to become Tuvalu's next prime minister with five new members and three members of the previous government. 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.{{cite news |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=56147 |title=New-look government for Tuvalu |date=29 September 2010 |work=Radio New Zealand International |accessdate=25 November 2011}}[http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201009/s3025304.htm "New Tuvalu PM Maatia Toafa names cabinet"], ABC Radio Australia, 29 September 2010 Isaia Taeia Italeli, the younger brother of Governor General Iakopa Taeia Italeli, became the speaker of parliament.

However, on 15 December 2010, Prime Minister Maatia Toafa's government was ousted in a motion of no confidence, which followed Willie Telavi withdrawing his support for the government. On 25 December 2010 Willy Telavi was elected prime minister with an (8:7) majority over Enele Sopoaga. Kamuta Latasi, was appointed Speaker.

{{Main|List of by-elections in Tuvalu}}

Minister of Works Isaia Italeli died suddenly in July 2011,{{cite news |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=61940 |title=Samoa police rule out foul play in death of Tuvalu minister |date=21 July 2011 |work=Radio New Zealand International |accessdate=25 November 2011}} which led to the 2011 Nui by-election in 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 the one seat majority,[http://australianetworknews.com/stories/201108/3302279.htm "Tuvalu Government set to retain power"] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120717065208/http://australianetworknews.com/stories/201108/3302279.htm |date=17 July 2012 }}, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 24 August 2011 of the government of Willy Telavi.

Lotoala Metia, the MP for Nukufetau and Minister of Finance, died on 21 December 2012. The 2013 Nukufetau by-election was held on 28 June.{{cite web| work =Islands Business| title =Tuvalu's former PM Sopoaga has another shot| date =10 June 2013| url =http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/1437/tuvalus-former-pm-sopoaga-has-another-shot/| accessdate =21 September 2013| url-status =dead| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053304/http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/1437/tuvalus-former-pm-sopoaga-has-another-shot/| archivedate =21 September 2013| df =dmy-all}} The Nukufetau by-election was won by the opposition candidate Elisala Pita.{{cite web| work =Islands Business| title =Tuvalu's Opposition waiting to hear from GG| date =1 July 2013| url =http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/1636/tuvalus-opposition-waiting-to-hear-from-gg/| accessdate =21 September 2013| url-status =dead| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20140108011424/http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/1636/tuvalus-opposition-waiting-to-hear-from-gg/| archivedate =8 January 2014| df =dmy-all}}

After Pita's victory, a constitutional crisis developed when Prime Minister Telavi responded that, under the Constitution, he was only required to convene Parliament once a year, and was thus under no obligation to summon it until December 2013.{{cite web| work= Radio New Zealand International |title= Parliament needs one yearly meeting only says defiant Tuvalu PM |date =2 July 2013|url= http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=77230| accessdate=21 September 2013}} Tuvalu's opposition then requested the Governor-General Iakoba Italeli to intervene against the Prime Minister's decision.{{cite web| last =Coutts | first =Geraldine | work= Radio Australia |title= Tuvalu opposition demands parliament be allowed to sit after weekend by-election |date =2 July 2013|url=http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/pacific-beat/tuvalu-opposition-demands-parliament-be-allowed-to-sit-after-weekend-byelection/1154762| accessdate=19 July 2013}} On 3 July, Italeli exercised his reserve powers in ordering Parliament to convene, against the Prime Minister's wishes, on 30 July.{{cite web| work =Islands Business| title =Tuvalu's parliament convenes 30 July| date =1 July 2013| url =http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/1725/tuvalus-parliament-convenes-july-30/| accessdate =21 September 2013| url-status =dead| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053503/http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/1725/tuvalus-parliament-convenes-july-30/| archivedate =21 September 2013| df =dmy-all}}

The Governor-General, Iakoba Italeli, then proceeded to exercise his reserve powers to order Telavi to stand down as prime minister and appointed Enele Sopoaga as interim prime minister.{{cite news| url=http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/2183/gg-appoints-sopoaga-as-tuvalus-caretaker-pm/| last=Matau| first=Robert| title=GG appoints Sopoaga as Tuvalu's caretaker PM| date=1 August 2013| newspaper=Island Business| accessdate=8 August 2013| url-status=dead| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010153108/http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/2183/gg-appoints-sopoaga-as-tuvalus-caretaker-pm/| archivedate=10 October 2014| df=dmy-all}}{{cite web| last=AFP| first=Report| work= Sydney Morning Herald|title= Dismissal crisis rocks Tuvalu|date =2 August 2013|url= http://www.smh.com.au/world/dismissal-crisis-rocks-tuvalu-20130802-2r54l.html#ixzz2b3BIryEF| accessdate=5 August 2013}} The Governor-General also ordered that parliament sit on Friday 2 August to allow a vote of no-confidence in Telavi and his government.{{cite web| last = Cooney | first = Campbell | work= Australia News Network |title= Tuvalu government faces constitutional crisis|date =1 August 2013|url= http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-01/tuvalu-government-in-crisis/4859432| accessdate=5 August 2013}}

On 2 August 2013 Willy Tevali faced a motion of no confidence in the parliament: the voting was eight for the motion, four against and one abstention. On 4 August the parliament elected Enele Sopoaga as Prime Minister.

Sopoaga gained further support in the parliament following the 2013 Nui by-election,{{cite web| work =Islands Business from Radio Tuvalu| title =New MP elected in Tuvalu| date =11 September 2013| url =http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/2822/new-mp-elected-in-tuvalu/| accessdate =11 September 2013| url-status =dead| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20140405053943/http://islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/2822/new-mp-elected-in-tuvalu/| archivedate =5 April 2014| df =dmy-all}}{{cite web |last=Matau |first=Robert |work=Islands Business |title=Tuvalu govt bombshells |date=5 August 2013 |url=http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/2146/tuvalu-govt-bombshells/ |accessdate=5 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429162109/http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/2146/tuvalu-govt-bombshells/ |archivedate=29 April 2014 }}{{cite web| work= Radio New Zealand International |title= New Tuvalu Govt to release road map for first 100 days in power|date =17 September 2013|url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=79181| accessdate=21 September 2013}} and the 2014 Nanumaga by-election.{{cite web| last =Matau| first =Robert| work =Islands Business| title =New speaker for Tuvalu in the new year?| date =January 2014| url =http://www.islandsbusiness.com/2014/1/pacific-update/new-speaker-for-tuvalu-in-the-new-year/| accessdate =15 January 2014| url-status =dead| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20140116075556/http://www.islandsbusiness.com/2014/1/pacific-update/new-speaker-for-tuvalu-in-the-new-year/| archivedate =16 January 2014| df =dmy-all}}{{cite web| work=Radio New Zealand |title= Tuvalu by-election sees former speaker win seat|date =16 January 2014|url= http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/233496/tuvalu-by-election-sees-former-speaker-win-seat| accessdate=16 January 2014}}{{cite web| work =Islands Business – From FENUI NEWS/PACNEWS| title =Former Tuvalu Speaker joins government| date =22 January 2014| url =http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/4347/former-tuvalu-speaker-joins-government/| accessdate =23 January 2014| url-status =dead| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20140201200034/http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/4347/former-tuvalu-speaker-joins-government/| archivedate =1 February 2014| df =dmy-all}} Willy Telavi resigned from parliament in August 2014.{{cite web| work= Radio Australia|title= Tuvalu to hold by-election after MP resignation|date =25 August 2014|url= http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/pacific-beat/tuvalu-to-hold-byelection-after-mp-resignation/1360712 | accessdate=26 August 2014}}{{cite web| work= Radio New Zealand International |title= Former Tuvalu PM quits parliament|date =26 August 2014|url= http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/253026/former-tuvalu-pm-quits-parliament| accessdate=26 August 2014}} The result of the 2014 Nanumea by-election provided further support for the government of Enele Sopoaga.{{cite web | work=FENEUI NEWS/PACNEWS |title=New MP elected in Tuvalu |date =22 September 2014|url= http://www.pina.com.fj/?p=pacnews&m=read&o=15016170145420fbde8236adc321c9| accessdate=19 October 2014}} A general election was set down for 19 March 2015.{{cite web| work=Radio New Zealand |title= Two unopposed seats for Tuvalu election|date =4 March 2015|url= http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/267784/two-unopposed-seats-for-tuvalu-election| accessdate=7 March 2015}}

{{reflist}}

• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110628185654/http://tuvaluislands.com/news/archives/2010/2010-09-16.html Tuvalu News: Tuvalu Election Results]}}

{{Tuvaluan elections}}

Category:Elections in Tuvalu

Tuvalu

General election

Category:Election and referendum articles with incomplete results

Tuvalu