2003 Nukufetau by-election
A by-election was held in the Nukufetau constituency in Tuvalu as the consequence of the appointment of the opposition member of parliament Faimalaga Luka as the Governor-General of Tuvalu.
Context
[edit]During his term as Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Saufatu Sopoanga experienced a shifting alliance of MPs who supported him, and there was also an opposition group against him. Both Sapoanga's group and the opposition group were plagued by defections; a series of by-elections also created uncertainty as to which side would emerge with a parliamentary majority.
The Sopoanga government lost its majority in May 2003, following the results of the 2003 Nanumea by-election and the 2003 Niutao by-election.[1] Amasone Kilei, the leader of the opposition, wrote to Sir Tomasi Puapua, the governor-general, on 10 May 2003 advising that he commanded the support of a majority of the members of parliament and they were ready to form a government. The leader of the opposition also commenced legal proceedings in the High Court of Tuvalu.[2]
Eventually Saufatu Sopoanga recalled parliament to meet in September 2003.[3] On 9 September Sopoanga arranged to appointed opposition MP Faimalaga Luka as governor general to follow Sir Tomasi Puapua.[4][5] This appointment deprived the opposition of its crucial one-seat majority and triggering the Nukufetau by-election.
Result
[edit]The winner of the October by-election, Elisala Pita, joined the government's benches, enabling it to survive into 2004.[6] The survival of the Sopoanga government has been described as resulting from his dexterous handling of the distribution of ministerial and other appointments.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ Hassall, Graham (2006). "The Tuvalu General Election 2006". Democracy and Elections project, Governance Program, University of the South Pacific. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ^ "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
- ^ Lansford, Tom (2015). Political Handbook of the World 2015. CQ Press.
- ^ Craig, Robert D. (2010). Historical Dictionary of Polynesia. Scarecrow Press.
- ^ "New Member of Parliament in Tuvalu", Radio Australia, 13 October 2003
- ^ 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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2015.