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 the parliament, and is elected by parliament in a secret ballot. Because there are no political parties in Tuvalu, any member of parliament can be nominated for the role. Following the parliamentary vote the governor-general of Tuvalu (as head of state) is responsible for swearing in as the prime minister the person who commands the confidence of a majority of members of parliament.
| Prime Minister of Tuvalu | |
|---|---|
 Coat of Arms of Tuvalu | |
| Appointer | Mrs. Teniku Talesi Honolulu |
| Term length | While commanding the confidence of the majority of members of parliament. No term limits are imposed on the office. |
| Inaugural holder | Toaripi Lauti |
| Formation | 1 October 1978 |
| Salary | AU$ 26,660 annually[1] |
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| This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Tuvalu |
 Tuvalu portal |
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The office of prime minister was established when Tuvalu gained independence in 1978, although the post is sometimes considered to be a continuation of the earlier office of chief minister, which was created in 1975. If the prime minister dies, as has happened on one occasion, the deputy prime minister becomes acting prime minister until a new one is elected by parliament. The prime minister can lose his office by resigning, being defeated in a motion of no confidence by parliament, or losing his seat in a parliamentary election.
Several former prime ministers have been appointed the governor-general of Tuvalu.
Since 2019, Kausea Natano is the incumbent prime minister.
Chief Minister of the Ellice Islands (1975–78)
| No. | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Political party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| 1 | Sir Toaripi Lauti (1928–2014) |
2 October 1975 | 1 October 1978 | 2 years,
364 days |
Independent |
Prime ministers of Tuvalu (1978–present)
| No. | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Political party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| 1 | Sir Toaripi Lauti (1928–2014) |
1 October 1978 | 8 September 1981 | 2 years, 341 days | Independent |
| 2 | Tomasi Puapua (1938–) |
8 September 1981 | 16 October 1989 | 8 years, 38 days | Independent |
| 3 | Bikenibeu Paeniu (1956–) |
16 October 1989 | 10 December 1993 | 4 years, 54 days | Independent |
| 4 | Sir Kamuta Latasi (1936–) |
10 December 1993 | 24 December 1996 | 3 years, 14 days | Independent |
| (3) | Bikenibeu Paeniu (1956–) |
24 December 1996 | 27 April 1999 | 2 years, 124 days | Independent |
| 5 | Ionatana Ionatana (1938–2000) |
27 April 1999 | 8 December 2000 | 1 year, 224 days | Independent |
| N/A1 | Lagitupu Tuilimu | 8 December 2000 | 24 February 2001 | 78 days | Independent |
| 6 | Faimalaga Luka (1940–2005) |
24 February 2001 | 14 December 2001 | 293 days | Independent |
| 7 | Koloa Talake (1934–2008) |
14 December 2001 | 24 August 2002 | 253 days | Independent |
| 8 | Saufatu Sopoanga (1952–2020) |
24 August 2002 | 27 August 2004 | 2 years, 3 days | Independent |
| 9 | Maatia Toafa (1954–) |
27 August 2004 | 14 August 2006 | 1 year, 352 days | Independent |
| 10 | Apisai Ielemia (1955–2018) |
14 August 2006 | 29 September 2010 | 4 years, 45 days | Independent |
| (9) | Maatia Toafa (1954–) |
29 September 2010 | 24 December 2010 | 86 days | Independent |
| 11 | Willy Telavi (1954–) |
24 December 2010 | 1 August 2013 | 2 years, 221 days | Independent |
| 12 | Enele Sopoaga (1956–) |
1 August 2013 | 19 September 2019 | 6 years, 48 days | Independent |
| 13 | Kausea Natano (1957–) |
19 September 2019 | Incumbent | 1 year, 141 days | Independent |
Notes
References
- Tuvalu. "PRESCRIPTION OF SALARIES ACT, 2008 Revised Edition" (PDF). tuvalu-legislation.tv.
- "Tuvalu: Year In Review 2001". Britannica. 2001. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
- Lansford, Tom (2015). Political Handbook of the World 2015. CQ Press.