The prime minister of Tuvalu is the country's head of government. 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.
Part V, section 62 of the Constitution of Tuvalu describes the vesting of the executive authority: (1) The executive authority of Tuvalu is primarily vested in the Sovereign, and the Governor-General as the representative of the Sovereign. (2) The executive authority so vested in the Sovereign shall be exercised in accordance with section 53 (performance of functions by the Head of State).
Following the parliamentary vote, the governor-general of Tuvalu is responsible for swearing in as the prime minister the person who commands the confidence of a majority of members of parliament.
Part V of the Constitution establishes the executive authority of Tuvalu and confirms that while the Prime Minister is the head of government, executive power is exercised by ministerial government, with Part V, section 67 to 69 establishing the role of the cabinet.
The office of prime minister was established when Tuvalu gained independence in 1978. However, the post is sometimes considered a continuation of the earlier office of chief minister, 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.
Part V, Section 63 of the Constitution of Tuvalu establishes the office of Prime Minister. Under section 64, the Prime Minister is elected by the members of parliament, with sections 64 to 67 describing what happens if the office of the Prime Minister becomes vacant, the removal from office of an incapacitated Prime Minister, the process for the suspension of the Prime Minister, and the effect of removal or suspension of the Prime Minister.
Until the Second Toafa Ministry in 2010, the prime minister also had the role of foreign minister. Enele Sopoaga was the foreign minister in the short-lived Second Toafa Ministry. In subsequent ministries, foreign affairs was another minister's responsibility in the cabinet.
Several former prime ministers have been appointed the governor-general of Tuvalu.
Feleti Teo was appointed as prime minister on 26 February 2024, after he was elected unopposed by the parliament.
List of prime ministers Toaripi Lauti was the Chief Minister of the Ellice Islands from 1975 to 1978 when Tuvalu became an independent country. He became the first Prime Minister of Tuvalu after that. +Prime Ministers of TuvaluPortraitNameElectionTerm of officeMinistryGovernor-GeneralMonarch Took office Left office Time in office1Sir Toaripi Lauti19771 October 19788 September 1981Lauti MinistrySir Fiatau Penitala TeoQueen Elizabeth II2Tomasi Puapua198119858 September 198116 October 1989First Puapua MinistrySecond Puapua MinistrySir Tupua Leupena3Bikenibeu Paeniu19891993 16 October 198910 December 1993First Paeniu MinistrySir Toaripi LautiSir Tomu Sione4Sir Kamuta Latasi1993 10 December 199324 December 1996Latasi MinistrySir Tulaga ManuellaBikenibeu Paeniu1993 199824 December 199627 April 1999Second Paeniu MinistryThird Paeniu MinistrySir Tomasi Puapua5Ionatana Ionatana199827 April 19998 December 2000Ionatana MinistryLagitupu Tuilimu—8 December 200024 February 2001Tuilimu Ministry6Faimalaga Luka199824 February 200114 December 2001Luka Ministry7Koloa Talake199814 December 20012 August 2002Talake Ministry8Saufatu Sopoanga20022 August 200227 August 2004Sopoanga MinistryFaimalaga Luka9Maatia Toafa200227 August 200414 August 2006First Toafa MinistrySir Filoimea Telito10Apisai Ielemia200614 August 200629 September 2010Ielemia MinistrySir Kamuta LatasiSir Iakoba ItaleliMaatia Toafa201029 September 201024 December 2010Second Toafa Ministry11Willy Telavi201024 December 20101 August 2013Telavi Ministry 12 Enele Sopoaga 20102015 1 August 2013 19 September 2019 Sopoaga Ministry 13 Kausea Natano 2019 19 September 2019 26 February 2024 Natano MinistryMrs. Teniku Talesi,Samuelu Teo 14 Feleti Teo 2024 26 February 2024 Incumbent Teo Ministry Sir Tofiga Vaevalu Falani King Charles IIITemukisa Auina Penehuro Hauma
Notes
Tuilimu served as acting prime minister following the death of Ionatana. Sir Iakoba Italeli resigned as Governor-General on 22 August 2019 to contest a seat in parliament in the 2019 general election. Sir Tofiga Vaevalu Falani was appointed as Governor-General on 29 September 2021, during the term of prime minister Kausea Natano King Charles III acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022, during the term of prime minister Kausea Natano.
Timeline
References