Elections and political parties in Tuvalu
Tuvalu elects a legislature on a national level. The Parliament of Tuvalu (Palamene o Tuvalu) has 15 members, elected for a four-year term in 7 double- and 1 single-seat constituencies.[1] Tuvalu is a de facto non-partisan democracy since it does not have political parties.
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Tuvalu |
---|
Tuvalu portal |
Throughout the history of the parliament three women have been elected: Naama Maheu Latasi, from 1989 to 1997; Pelenike Isaia, from 2011 to 2015; and Dr Puakena Boreham who was elected in the 2015 Tuvaluan general election.
Parliament of Tuvalu (Palamene o Tuvalu)
During the time Tuvalu was a British dependency the parliament was called the House of the Assembly. Following independence in October 1978 the House of the Assembly was renamed the Parliament of Tuvalu (Palamene o Tuvalu).[2]
The Constitution of Tuvalu states that it "is the supreme law of Tuvalu" and that "all other laws shall be interpreted and applied subject to this Constitution"; it sets out the Principles of the Bill of Rights and the Protection of the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms.[3][4] In 1986 the Constitution adopted upon independence was amended in order to give attention to Tuvaluan custom and tradition as well as the aspirations and values of the Tuvaluan people.[5][6] The changes placed greater emphasis on Tuvaluan community values rather than Western concepts of individual entitlement.[5]
The constituency of the parliament is based upon the islands of Tuvalu. The larger islands elect two members, while Nukulaelae elects one member. The smallest island, Niulakita, is represented in the parliament by the members of the constituency of Niutao. A candidate for parliament must be a citizen of Tuvalu of a minimum age of 21 years. Voting in Tuvalu is not compulsory. At 18 years of age, Tuvaluans are eligible to be added to the electoral rolls.[2] At the date of independence there were 12 members of the parliament. The Electoral Act was amended in December 1999 to increase the membership of parliament from 12 to 15 MPs.[7] In August 2007 the Constitution was changed to increase the number of ministers from 5 to 7.[7] Those members selected the Prime Minister and the Speaker of the parliament by secret ballot.[7] The Ministers that form the Cabinet are appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the prime minister.[2] The Attorney-General sits in parliament, but does not vote, as the parliamentary role of the Attorney-General is purely advisory.[2]
Parties
Due to the small population size and scale of the 16 seat parliament, Tuvalu has no political parties, meaning that the political system in Tuvalu exhibits the traits of a Non-partisan democracy.[7][8]
1977 elections to the House of Assembly
During the time Tuvalu was a British dependency the parliament was called the House of the Assembly or Fale i Fono. Following independence in October 1978 the House of the Assembly was renamed the Parliament of Tuvalu or Palamene o Tuvalu.[2]
As a consequence of the 1974 Ellice Islands self-determination referendum, separation occurred in two stages. The Tuvaluan Order 1975, which took effect on 1 October 1975, recognised Tuvalu as a separate British dependency with its own government. The second stage occurred on 1 January 1976 when separate administrations were created out of the civil service of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony.[9]
Elections to the House of Assembly of the British Colony of Tuvalu were held on 27 August 1977; with Toaripi Lauti being appointed as prime minister on 1 October 1977. The parliament was dissolved in July 1978 with the government of Toaripi Lauti continuing as a caretaker government until the 1981 elections were held.[2]
1981 elections to the Parliament of Tuvalu
The first elections after independence will not held until 8 September 1981. 26 candidates contested the 12 seats. Dr. Tomasi Puapua, was elected as prime minister with a 7:5 majority over the group a members of parliament headed by former prime minister Toaripi Lauti.[2][10]
1985 elections to the Parliament of Tuvalu
The general election was held on 12 September 1985, with nine members re-elected including prime minister Tomasi Puapua and minister of finance Henry Naisali. On 21 September, Tomasi Puapua was re-elected as prime minister; he subsequently appointed a five-member Cabinet.[11] He remained PM until the 1989 general election.
1989 elections to the Parliament of Tuvalu
The general election was held on 26 March 1989. Naama Maheu Latasi was elected to represent the constituency of Nanumea and was the first woman elected to the Parliament of Tuvalu. Puapua chose not the offer himself as a candidate for PM after the 1989 election.[12] Bikenibeu Paeniu was subsequently elected as prime minister, with a five-member Cabinet formed on 16 October 1989.[13] He remained PM until the 1993 general election.
1993 elections to the Parliament of Tuvalu
The general election was held on 2 September 1993. In the subsequent parliament the members were evenly split in their support of the incumbent prime minister Bikenibeu Paeniu and the former prime minister Tomasi Puapua.[14]
As a consequence, the governor-general dissolved the parliament on 22 September and a further election took place on 25 November 1993. Tomasi Puapua chose not the offer himself as a candidate for PM.[12] The subsequent parliament elected Kamuta Latasi as prime minister on 10 December 1993, with a 7:5 majority over the group a members of parliament headed by former prime minister Bikenibeu Paeniu.[14] The deputy prime minister was Otinielu Tausi and Tomasi Puapua was appointed the speaker of the parliament. Kamuta Latasi was the prime minister until 17 December 1996.[12] As the result of the vote on a motion of no confidence Kamuta Latasi resigned and Bikenibeu Paeniu was elected as prime minister for the second time on 23 December 1996.[12] He remained as prime minister until the 1998 general elections.
1998 elections to the Parliament of Tuvalu
On 18 December 1997 the parliament was dissolved and the general election was held on 26 March 1998. During the election campaign, candidates from the incumbent government and the opposition traded allegations of sexual and financial misconduct. The result of the election was that 7 existing members were returned (including Bikenibeu Paeniu and Tomasi Puapua); 2 members of previous parliaments were elected; and 3 new members were elected. Former prime minister Kamuta Latasi lost his seat. Bikenibeu Paeniu was re-elected prime minister on 8 April 1998;[15] the deputy prime minister was Kokea Malua and Tomu Sione was appointed as Speaker of the parliament. Bikenibeu Paeniu remained as prime minister until he resigned following the vote on a motion of no confidence (7:4) on 14 April 1999.[12]
Ionatana Ionatana was then elected as prime minister on 27 April 1999.[12] After the death of prime minister Ionatana on 8 December 2000,[16] Lagitupu Tuilimu was acting prime minister from 8 December 2000 to 24 February 2001.[12] Faimalaga Luka became the prime minister on 23 February 2001 and was sworn in the next day with a reshuffled cabinet.[12] Luka's government lasted until December 2001, when he lost office as the consequence of a motion of no confidence.[12] On 13 December 2001 Koloa Talake was appointed prime minister.[12] Talake lost his seat in parliament at the 2002 general election.[12]
2002 elections to the Parliament of Tuvalu
The general election was held on 25 July 2002. There were 5,188 registered voters with the turnout on election date being 80% of voters. 39 candidates competed for the 15 parliamentary seats. Six members of the former parliament lost their seats including prime minister Koloa Talake, 3 cabinet ministers and the Speaker, Tomu Sione.[12] On 2 August 2002 Saufatu Sopoanga, who had been minister of finance in the previous administration, was elected prime minister;[17] winning the vote against Amasone Kilei (8:7).[12]
The Sopoanga government lost its majority in May 2003, following the results of the 2003 Nanumea by-election and the 2003 Niutao by-election.[8] The opposition took legal action in an attempt to force Sopoanga to recall parliament.[18] Sopoanga recalled parliament to meet in September,[19] On 9 September Sopoanga arranged to appointed opposition MP Faimalaga Luka as governor general, depriving the opposition of its crucial one-seat majority and triggering the 2003 Nukufetau by-election. The winner of the October by-election, Elisala Pita, joined the government's benches, enabling it to survive into 2004.[20]
The Sopoanga government was eventually brought down by an eight-to-six motion of no confidence in August 2004.[21] Two government members, Elisala Pita and Otinielu Tausi, crossed the floor to vote against Sopoanga.[22] On 25 August 2004 Saufatu Sopoanga resigned as prime minister and member of parliament.[23] A by-election was held on 7 October 2004 and Saufatu Sopoanga regained his seat. Maatia Toafa was elected prime minister on 11 October 2004 with a vote of 8:7;[24] and Saufatu Sopoanga became deputy prime minister and minister for works, transport and communication.[23][12] Maatia Toafa remained PM until the 2006 general election.
2006 elections to the Parliament of Tuvalu
The general election was held on 3 August 2006. There were 5,765 eligible voters on the electoral roll.[8] 32 candidates, including 2 women, competed for the 15 seats (the parliament had been increased from 12 to 15 elected members). Maatia Toafa was re-elected to his seat in parliament; however all his cabinet members were defeated. Eight new members were elected to the parliament.[23] On 14 August 2006 Apisai Ielemia was elected as prime minister;[25] and Kamuta Latasi was appointed the speaker of the parliament.[23] Apisai Ielemia remained PM until the 2010 general election.
2010 elections to the Parliament of Tuvalu
Parliament was dissolved on 13 August 2010, and registration began on 28 August 2010.[26] Twenty-six candidates, including all sitting members of parliament, stood for the fifteen seats in Parliament.[27]
There were 6,008 registered voters.[28] Many candidates focused on climate change issues including Enele Sopoaga, a former Tuvaluan ambassador to the United Nations and Tuvalu's representative at the UN Climate Change Conference held in Copenhagen in 2009.[29][30]
Ten of the 15 members of parliament retained their seats including the speaker Kamuta Latasi, while the deputy prime minister Tavau Teii lost his seat.[31]
No women were elected in the general elections held in September 2010. In the by-election held in August 2011, Pelenike Isaia, the widow of Isaia Italeli who died the previous month,[32] was elected by the constituency of Nui. Pelenike Isaia becoming the second woman to enter the parliament.[28]
Toafa ministry
Following the election Maatia Toafa was elected as prime minister with the support of five new members of parliament and three members that had supported prime minister Apisai Ielemia. Maatia Toafa as supported by an (8:7) majority in the parliament. Isaia Taeia Italeli, the younger brother of the governor-general Iakoba Italeli, was appointed the Speaker of the parliament.[28]
On 15 December 2010, prime minister Maatia Toafa's government was ousted in a vote 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.[28][33]
Lotoala Metia, the minister of finance, died on 21 December 2012.[34] The calling of a by-election was delayed until the High Court of Tuvalu ordered the prime minister to issue a notice to hold the by-election.[35][36] The 2013 Nukufetau by-election was held on 28 June.[37] The Nukufetau by-election was won by the opposition candidate Elisala Pita.[38] A constitutional crisis developed when prime minister Telavi responded that, under the Constitution of Tuvalu, he was only required to convene parliament once a year, and was thus under no obligation to summon it until December 2013.[39] Tuvalu's opposition then requested the governor-general Iakoba Italeli to intervene against the prime minister's decision.[40] On 3 July, Italeli exercised his reserve powers in ordering parliament to convene, against the prime minister's wishes, on 30 July.[41]
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, resigned from the parliament (and thus also from the government).[42] 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 Mmnister.[43]
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.[44][45] The governor-general also ordered that parliament sit on Friday 2 August to allow a vote of no-confidence in Mr Telavi and his government.[46] Telavi then proceeding to write to Queen Elizabeth II (as the head of state of Tuvalu) informing her that he was dismissing Mr Italeli from his position as governor-general.[45]
Sopoaga ministry
On Sunday 4 August the parliament elected Enele Sopoaga as prime minister.[47] Vete Sakaio was subsequently appointed deputy prime minister and minister for public utilities, Maatia Toafa was appointed the minister of finance and economic development and Taukelina Finikaso was appointed the foreign minister.[48]
As a consequence of the resignation of Taom Tanukale, the Nui by-election was held on 10 September 2013. Leneuoti Maatusi was declared the winner, polling 297 of the 778 registered voters. Maatusi 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, the sitting member, whose resignation from parliament caused the by-election, who received 160 votes.[49] The government of Enele Sopoaga had a majority of two going into the by-election.[50] After the by-election Leneuoti Maatusi committed to support prime minister Enele Sopoaga.[51]
In December 2013 a vacancy for the constituency of Nanumaga was declared by the governor-general in accordance with Section 99 (2) of the Tuvalu Constitution following an assessment of Falesa Pitoi's health.[52] The 2014 Nanumaga by-election occurred on 14 January.[53] The candidates were Halo Tuavai, Otinielu Tauteleimalae Tausi and Pai Teatu.[54] Otinielu Tausi was the successful candidate.[55] Tausi has chosen to support prime minister Enele Sopoaga, which give the government a two-thirds majority of the members of parliament.[56] On 3 March 2014 Tausi was elected as the speaker of the parliament.[57][58]
The 2014 Nanumea by-election was called following the resignation of Willy Telavi in August. The voting occurred on 19 September 2014.[59] Mr Satini Tulaga Manuella was the successful candidate. The former University of the South Pacific senior accountant and president of the Tuvalu National Private Sector Organization (TNPSO) supported the government of Enele Sopoaga.[60] In 2015 the parliament was dissolved with a general election set down for March 2015.[61]
2015 elections to the Parliament of Tuvalu
The general election was held in Tuvalu on 31 March 2015.[62][63][64] The state of emergency created by Cyclone Pam resulted in the election being delayed twice. The election was originally scheduled for 19 March,[61] then after Cyclone Pam caused damage to the islands, the election was rescheduled for 26 March.[65]
In the Nukufetau electorate, Enele Sopoaga and Elisala Pita were not opposed by other candidates. Namoliki Sualiki was not opposed in the Nukulaelae electorate.[61][66] The other islands had contested ballots. The candidates in the constituencies of Niutao and Nui included former members of parliament.[66][67] On Nui Pelenike Isaia and Leneuoti Matusi were not returned to parliament.[68] The new members elected to represent Nui were Mackenzie Kiritome and Dr Puakena Boreham, who is the third woman to be elected as an MP.[69][70]
On Niutao Vete Sakaio, the deputy-prime minister, was not elected and was succeeded by Samuelu Teo, who is a former MP. The election was a good result for the government of Enele Sopoaga.[71][72] Enele Sopoaga was sworn in as prime minister and appointed the ministers to the cabinet on 10 April.[1][73][74]
Apisai Ielemia was elected to represent Vaitupu at the general election. On 5 October 2016 Chief Justice Sweeney of the High Court of Tuvalu declared that Ielemia's parliamentary seat was vacant as he was not qualified to be a member of parliament,[75] as the consequence of the short time the opposition MP served time in jail following his conviction on 6 May 2016 in the Magistrate's Court of charges of abuse of office during the final year of his term as Prime Minister (August 2006 to September 2010).[76] The by-election was won by pro-government candidate Isaia Vaipuna Taape.[76] Taape was sworn in as a member of parliament for Vaitupu on Wednesday 16 August 2017.[77]
Sir Kamuta Latasi resigned as MP on 17 October 2018. A by-election was held on 20 November 2018, with Simon Kofe, a former senior magistrate, being elected.[78]
2019 elections to the Parliament of Tuvalu
The 2019 general election was held on 9 September 2019.[79] In the Nukufetau electorate the caretaker prime minister, Enele Sopoaga, was returned to Parliament, however Satini Manuella, Taukelina Finikaso and Maatia Toafa, who were ministers, were not returned. Seven new members of Parliament were elected.[79]
On 19 September, in a secret ballot, the members of parliament elected Kausea Natano from Funafuti as prime minister with a 10-6 majority.[80][81][82] Samuelu Teo was elected as Speaker of the Parliament of Tuvalu.[83]
See also
References
- "Palamene o Tuvalu (Parliament of Tuvalu)". Inter-Parliamentary Union. 13 April 2015. Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- "Palamene o Tuvalu (Parliament of Tuvalu)" (PDF). Inter-Parliamentary Union. 1981. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
- "PACLII". The Constitution of Tuvalu. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
- "TuvaluIslands.com". The Constitution of Tuvalu. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
- Levine, Stephen (1992). "Constitutional Change in Tuvalu". Australian Journal of Political Science. 27: 492–509. doi:10.1080/00323269208402211.
- Farran, Sue (2006). "Obstacle to Human Rights? Considerations from the South Pacific" (PDF). Journal of Legal Pluralism: 77–105.
- Paulson Panapa & Jon Fraenkel (2008). "The Loneliness of the Pro-Government Backbencher and the Precariousness of Simple Majority Rule in Tuvalu" (PDF). Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- Hassall, Graham (2006). "The Tuvalu General Election 2006". Democracy and Elections project, Governance Program, University of the South Pacific. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- Tito Isala, Hugh Larcy (ed) (1983). "Chapter 20, Secession and Independence". Tuvalu: A History. University of the South Pacific/Government of Tuvalu. p. 169.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
- Macdonald, B. (1983). "Tuvalu: The 1981 General Election". Political Science. 35: 71–77. doi:10.1177/003231878303500105.
- "Palamene o Tuvalu (Parliament of Tuvalu)" (PDF). Inter-Parliamentary Union. 1985. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
- Lansford, Tom (2015). Political Handbook of the World 2015. CQ Press.
- "Palamene o Tuvalu (Parliament of Tuvalu)". Inter-Parliamentary Union. 1989. Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
- "Palamene o Tuvalu (Parliament of Tuvalu)". Inter-Parliamentary Union. 1993. Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
- "Palamene o Tuvalu (Parliament of Tuvalu)". Inter-Parliamentary Union. 1998. Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
- Field, Michael (9 December 2000). "Tuvalu's Prime Minister Ionatana Dies After Giving Speech". Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
- "Palamene o Tuvalu (Parliament of Tuvalu)". Inter-Parliamentary Union. 2002. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
- "Amasone v Attorney General [2003] TVHC 4; Case No 24 of 2003 (6 August 2003)". PACLII. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
- "Tuvalu PM Arranges for Recall of Parliament", Radio Australia, 26 August 2003
- "New Member of Parliament in Tuvalu", Radio Australia, 13 October 2003
- "Tuvalu PM loses vote of no-confidence", Agence France-Presse, 26 August 2004
- Taafaki, Tauaasa (2007). "Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006, Tuvalu". The Contemporary Pacific. 19 (1): 276–286. doi:10.1353/cp.2007.0036. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
- "Palamene o Tuvalu (Parliament of Tuvalu)". Inter-Parliamentary Union. 2006. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
- "New Tuvalu leader seeks stability". Radio New Zealand. 11 October 2004. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- "Tuvalu elects Apisai Ielemia as new prime minister". Radio New Zealand. 15 August 2006. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- "Tuvalu Parliament to be dissolved tomorrow ahead of elections in five weeks". Radio New Zealand International. 12 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
- "Tuvalu gears up for parliamentary elections". Radio New Zealand International. 15 September 2010. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
- "Palamene o Tuvalu (Parliament of Tuvalu)". Inter-Parliamentary Union. 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
- "Tuvalu completes voting in national elections", Radio Australia, 16 September 2010
- "Elections à Tuvalu" Archived 6 October 2011 at Archive.today, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (French), 17 September 2010.
- "Tuvalu PM, speaker retain seats as deputy PM crashes out". Radio Australia. 17 September 2010. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
- "Samoa police rule out foul play in death of Tuvalu minister". Radio New Zealand International. 21 July 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
- "Willie Telavi the new prime minister in Tuvalu". Radio New Zealand International. 24 December 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
- "Tuvalu Minister dies in Suva" Archived 5 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Islands Business, 24 December 2012
- "Attorney General, In re Application under Section 131(1) of the Constitution of Tuvalu [2014] TVHC 15; Civil Case 1.2013 (24 May 2013)". PACLII. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
- Matau, Robert (June 2013). "Tuvalu's high court orders by-election to be held". Island Business. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013.
- "Tuvalu's former PM Sopoaga has another shot". Islands Business. 10 June 2013. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
- "Tuvalu's Opposition waiting to hear from GG". Islands Business. 1 July 2013. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
- "Parliament needs one yearly meeting only says defiant Tuvalu PM". Radio New Zealand International. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
- Coutts, Geraldine (2 July 2013). "Tuvalu opposition demands parliament be allowed to sit after weekend by-election". Radio Australia. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
- AFP (1 July 2013). "Tuvalu's parliament convenes July 30". Islands Business. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
- "Tuvalu govt bombshells". Islands Business. 30 July 2013. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- Cooney, Campbell (31 July 2013). "Tuvalu speaker blocks no-confidence motion". Australia News Network. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- Matau, Robert (1 August 2013). "GG appoints Sopoaga as Tuvalu's caretaker PM". Island Business. Archived from the original on 10 October 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
- AFP, Report (2 August 2013). "Dismissal crisis rocks Tuvalu". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- Cooney, Campbell (1 August 2013). "Tuvalu government faces constitutional crisis". Australia News Network. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- Cooney, Campbell (5 August 2013). "Tuvalu Sopoaga elected new PM in Tuvalu". Radio Australia. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- "Enele Sopoaga Sworn-in Today as Tuvalu's New PM". Islands Business. 5 August 2013. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- "New MP elected in Tuvalu". Islands Business from Radio Tuvalu. 11 September 2013. Archived from the original on 5 April 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
- "Tuvalu voters toss out cabinet minister who forced a by-election". Radio New Zealand International. 11 September 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
- "New Tuvalu Govt to release road map for first 100 days in power". Radio New Zealand International. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
- "Tuvalu to hold by-election in Nanumaga". Radio New Zealand International. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
- Matau, Robert (January 2014). "New speaker for Tuvalu in the new year?". Islands Business. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
- "Tuvalu by-election sees former speaker win seat". Islands Business - From RNZI/ FENUI NEWS/PACNEWS. 17 January 2014. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
- "Tuvalu by-election sees former speaker win seat". Radio New Zealand. 16 January 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
- "Former Tuvalu Speaker joins government". Islands Business – From FENUI NEWS/PACNEWS. 22 January 2014. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
- Matau, Robert (4 March 2014). "Tuvalu's new speaker". Islands Business. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
- "Tuvalu PM says ousted speaker misinterpreted constitution". Radio New Zealand International. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
- "Tuvalu to hold by-election after MP resignation". Radio Australia. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
- Online Editor (22 September 2014). "New MP elected in Tuvalu". FENEUI NEWS/PACNEWS. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
- "Two unopposed seats for Tuvalu election". Radio New Zealand. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- D’Unienville, Yvette (31 March 2015). "Tuvalu go to polls". Fenui News. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- "Tuvalu: Tropical Cyclone Pam Situation Report No. 2 (as of 30 March 2015)". Relief Web. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- "Tuvalu elections to take place on Tuesday". Radio New Zealand. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- "Tuvalu: Tropical Cyclone Pam Situation Report No. 1 (as of 22 March 2015)". Relief Web. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- "Candidates for 2015 General Election". Fenui News. 27 February 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
- "Candidates for General Election for Nui Electoral District". Fenui News. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
- "2015 General Election Results". Fenui News. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- "Cabinet position could await new Tuvalu MP". Radio New Zealand. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
- Pua Pedro & Semi Malaki (1 April 2015). "Special Election Issue" (PDF). Fenui News. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- "Election looks set to return Sopoaga as Tuvalu's PM". Radio New Zealand. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
- "Sopoaga expects be sworn in as Tuvalu PM". Radio New Zealand. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
- Malaki, Semi (16 April 2015). "Prime Minister Hon Enele Sosene Sopoaga named his Cabinet (Election Special No. 3)". Fenui News. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
- "Cabinet of Tuvalu, 2015". Fenui News. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
- Chief Justice Charles Sweeney (2 November 2016). "Attorney General v Apisai Ielemia" (PDF). CASE NO 5/16. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- Pareti, Samisoni. "Tuvalu demonstrate against top judge, former PM seeks re-election in Vaitupu seat". PINA/ISLANDS BUSINESS/PACNEWS. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- "Honourable Isaia Vaipuna Taape sworn in". Fenui News. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
- "Mr. Simon Kofe wins Funafuti bye-election". Fenui News. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
- Tahana, Jamie (10 September 2019). "Tuvalu elections: large turnover for new parliament". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
- "Tuvalu has elected a new Prime Minister - Hon. Kausea Natano". 19 September 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
- Evan Wasuka & Alan Weedon (19 September 2019). "Pacific climate change champion Enele Sopoaga is no longer Tuvalu's PM — so who's next in?". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
- Colin Packham & Jonathan Barrett (19 September 2019). "Tuvalu changes PM, adds to concerns over backing for Taiwan in Pacific". Reuters. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
- "Kausea Natano new PM of Tuvalu; Sopoaga ousted". Radio New Zealand. 19 September 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2019.