2013 Nui by-election

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 2013 Nui by-election

| type = presidential

| country = Tuvalu

| seats_for_election = Nui constituency

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 2010 Tuvaluan general election

| previous_year = 2010

| next_election = 2015 Tuvaluan general election

| next_year = 2015

| election_date = 10 September 2013

| candidate1 = Leneuoti Maatusi

| image1 =

| party1 = Independent politician

| popular_vote1 = 297

| percentage1 = 44.79%

| candidate2 = Palemene Anelu

| image2 =

| party2 = Independent politician

| popular_vote2 = 206

| percentage2 = 31.07%

| candidate3 = Taom Tanukale

| image3 =

| party3 = Independent politician

| popular_vote3 = 160

| percentage3 = 24.13%

| title = MP

| posttitle =

| before_election = Taom Tanukale

| before_party = Independent politician

| after_election = Leneuoti Maatusi

| after_party = Independent politician

}}

A by-election was held in the Nui constituency in Tuvalu on 10 September 2013.{{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}} It was triggered by the resignation of the incumbent, MP Taom Tanukale, the Minister for Health, in the government of Willy Telavi.{{cite web| 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://islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/2146/tuvalu-govt-bombshells/| archivedate =29 April 2014}}

Result of the by-election

The Nui by-election was held on 10 September 2013. Leneuoti Maatusi was declared the winner, polling 297 of the 778 registered voters. Matusi has been a civil servant and served as the Secretary of the Nui Falekaupule. He beat Palemene Anelu, a recent graduate of the University of the South Pacific, who received 206 votes and Taom Tanukale, who received 160 votes.

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

The second member of parliament from Nui is Pelenike Isaia, who was elected following the death of her husband Isaia Italeli, in the 2011 Nui by-election.[http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201108/s3302286.htm "Tuvalu PM to remain in power"], ABC Radio Australia (audio), 25 August 2011

Background to the Nui by-election

Although there are no political parties in Tuvalu, Members of Parliament align themselves with the government or with the Opposition. A constitutional crisis developed in 2013 when Willy Telavi, the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, refused to recall Parliament following the 2013 Nukufetau by-election. Tuvalu's opposition then requested the Governor-General Iakoba Italeli to intervene against the Prime Minister's decision not to recall Parliament.{{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 2013 the Governor-General exercised his reserve powers in ordering Parliament to convene.[http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/1725/tuvalus-parliament-convenes-july-30/ "Tuvalu’s parliament convenes July 30"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053503/http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/1725/tuvalus-parliament-convenes-july-30/ |date=2013-09-21 }}, Islands Business, 3 July 2013 When the Parliament met on 30 July, the Speaker (Kamuta Latasi) refused to allow a debate on a no-confidence motion in the government of Willy Telavi. Taom Tanukale, the Health Minister then resigned from Parliament (and thus also from the government). This resignation appeared to be political manoeuvre as Willy Telavi responded by insisting that Parliament should be suspended until a by-election was held and declined to call the by-election. In Tuvalu a by-election can only be called when requested by the Prime Minister.{{cite web| last = Cooney | first = Campbell | work= Australia News Network |title= Tuvalu speaker blocks no-confidence motion|date =31 July 2013|url= http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-31/tuvalu-speaker-blocks-no-confidence-motion/4856426| accessdate=5 August 2013}}

The Governor-General Iakoba Italeli then proceeded to exercise his reserve powers to order Mr Telavi's removal and the appointment of Enele Sopoaga as interim prime minister.{{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 Parliament subsequently confirmed the appointment of Enele Sopoaga as prime minister.{{cite web | work =Islands Business| title =Enele Sopoaga Sworn-in Today as Tuvalu's New PM| date =5 August 2013| url =http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/2209/enele-sopoaga-sworn-in-today-as-tuvalus-new-pm/| accessdate =5 August 2013| url-status =dead| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054326/http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/2209/enele-sopoaga-sworn-in-today-as-tuvalus-new-pm/| archivedate =21 September 2013}} The government of Enele Sopoaga had a majority of two going into the by-election.{{cite web| last = | first = | work= Radio New Zealand International |title= Tuvalu voters toss out cabinet minister who forced a by-election|date =11 September 2013|url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=79035 | accessdate=13 September 2013}} Leneuoti Maatusi, elected in the by-election, committed to support Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga.{{cite web| last =| first =| 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}}