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'{{Short description|Tuvaluan politician}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = [[Sir]] | name = Iakoba Italeli | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|GCMG}} | image = Iakoba Italeli May 2015.jpg | caption = Italeli in May 2015 | order = 14th | office = Governor-General of Tuvalu | monarch = [[Elizabeth II]] | primeminister = [[Apisai Ielemia]]<br />[[Maatia Toafa]]<br />[[Willy Telavi]]<br />[[Enele Sopoaga]] | term_start = 16 April 2010 | term_end = 22 August 2019 | predecessor = [[Kamuta Latasi]] | successor = [[Teniku Talesi]] (acting) | office1 = Member of the [[Tuvaluan Parliament]]<br />for [[Nui (atoll)|Nui]] | term_start1 = 3 August 2006 | term_end1 = 16 September 2010 | predecessor1 = [[Taom Tanukale]] | successor1 = [[Taom Tanukale]] | office2 = Member of the [[Tuvaluan Parliament]]<br />for [[Nui (atoll)|Nui]] | term_start2 = 26 January 2024 | predecessor2 = Dr. [[Puakena Boreham]] | successor2 = | office3 = [[Law of Tuvalu|Attorney General of Tuvalu]] | term_start3 = 2002 | term_end3 = 2006 | predecessor3 = [[Feleti Teo]] | successor3 = [[Eselealofa Apinelu]] | birth_name = Iakoba Taeia Italeli | birth_date = | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | party = [[Independent politician|Independent]] | spouse = Lady Koling Italeli Taeia | alma_mater = [[University of Malta]] }} '''Sir Iakoba Taeia Italeli''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCMG}} is a Tuvaluan politician who was the [[governor-general of Tuvalu]] from 16 April 2010,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.commonwealthministers.com/heads_of_state/he_sir_iakoba_taeia_italeli_gcmg/|title=HE Sir Iakoba Taeia Italeli, GCMG|access-date=7 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407081129/http://www.commonwealthministers.com/heads_of_state/he_sir_iakoba_taeia_italeli_gcmg/|archive-date=7 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[http://www.pina.com.fj/index.php?p=pacnews&m=read&o=8784081714ca2c5d61bb2d51a8c723&PHPSESSID=f62304ea1cfe2ccfacd997ef0c83a4e0 "New Tuvaluan MPs get key cabinet portfolios"], Pacific Islands News Association, 29 September 2010</ref><ref>{{cite web| last = Hassall | first = Graham | work= Democracy and Elections project, Governance Program, University of the South Pacific|title= The Tuvalu General Election 2006 |date = 2006|url= https://www.academia.edu/4352305/The_Tuvalu_General_Election_2006| access-date=11 April 2015}}</ref> until 22 August 2019,<ref name="UN2020">{{cite web|url= https://protocol.un.org/dgacm/pls/site.nsf/files/HSPMFM/$FILE/Hspmfm.pdf|title= United Nations - Heads Of State|publisher= United Nations - Protocol and Liaison Service|date= 2020|access-date= 10 January 2021|archive-date= 14 September 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200914205358/https://protocol.un.org/dgacm/pls/site.nsf/files/HSPMFM/$FILE/Hspmfm.pdf|url-status= dead}}</ref> when he resigned to contest in the [[2019 Tuvaluan general election|2019 general election]].<ref name="I2020-10">{{cite web|url= https://tuvaluparadise.tv/2020/10/09/ggs-appointment-nanumaga-continues-to-defy-governments-request/|title= GG’s Appointment: Nanumaga Continues To Defy Government’s Request|publisher= Kitiona Tausi, Tuvalu Paradise - Issue No. 44/2020|date= 9 October 2020|access-date= 4 January 2021|archive-date= 8 January 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210108140323/https://tuvaluparadise.tv/2020/10/09/ggs-appointment-nanumaga-continues-to-defy-governments-request/|url-status= dead}}</ref> He was not successful in that election, however he was elected as a member of parliament in the [[2024 Tuvaluan general election]].<ref name="RNZ-24-1-27">{{cite news| url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/507716/tuvalu-general-election-six-newcomers-in-parliament | title=Tuvalu general election: Six newcomers in parliament |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date= 29 January 2024 |access-date=29 January 2024}}</ref><ref name="PDV-24-1-30">{{cite news |last1=Marinaccio|first1=Jess |title=Tuvalu’s 2024 general election: a new political landscape|url=https://devpolicy.org/2024-tuvalu-general-election-a-changing-political-landscape-20240130/ |access-date=30 January 2024 |work=PolicyDevBlog|date=30 January 2024}}</ref> He is also a former [[Law of Tuvalu|attorney general of Tuvalu]] who served from 2002 to 2006. He was the [[Chancellor (education)|chancellor]] of the [[University of the South Pacific]] from July 2014 to June 2015.<ref name="USP18">{{cite web |title= Chancellor |publisher= University of the South Pacific |date=August 2018 |url= https://www.usp.ac.fj/index.php?ido21473|access-date=17 January 2019}}</ref> In 2022 Italeli ran as Tuvalu's candidate to be the next [[Commonwealth]] Secretary-General. The aim was to fill the potential vacancy created if incumbent [[Patricia Scotland]] were to be prematurely disendorsed by a majority of member states, and to institute a pro-climate action agenda for the entire Commonwealth.<ref name="TND">{{cite news |last1=Crellin |first1=Zac |title=Pacific minnow wants to head Commonwealth |url=https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/2022/06/07/tuvalu-commonwealth-chogm-australia/ |access-date=17 July 2022 |work=[[The New Daily]] |date=7 June 2022}}</ref> At [[CHOGM 2022]] in Kigali, Rwanda, Italeli withdraw after an initial straw poll the votes were ultimately spit between Jamaican candidate [[Kamina Johnson Smith]] and Lady Scotland, who was victorious and stayed on as Secretary-General.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Flanagan |first1=Jane |last2=Zeffman |first2=Henry |title=Baroness Scotland re-elected as Commonwealth chief in blow to Johnson |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/baroness-scotland-re-elected-as-commonwealth-chief-in-blow-to-johnson-m0s3s30xv |access-date=17 July 2022 |work=[[The Times]] |date=24 June 2022}}</ref> ==Career== Prior to entering politics, Italeli served in the Tuvaluan police force for two decades.<ref name="TND"/> He worked his way up from constable to deputy commissioner.<ref>{{cite web |title=Profile |url=https://iakobaitaleli.gov.tv/index.php/profile/ |website=Sir Iakoba Taeia Italeli |publisher=Government of Tuvalu |access-date=17 July 2022 |date=2022}}</ref> In 2001, Italeli graduated from the [[International Maritime Law Institute]] at the [[University of Malta]]. He was appointed as acting Attorney General in 2002, a position kept until 2006. ==First term in parliament== Italeli ran for public office for the first time in the [[2006 Tuvaluan general election|Tuvaluan general election]] in 2006. He won the election, and became the representative of the [[Nui (atoll)|Nui]] district in the [[Parliament of Tuvalu]], a position kept for 4 more years.<ref name="GH2006">{{cite web| last = Hassall | first = Graham | work= Democracy and Elections project, Governance Program, University of the South Pacific|title= The Tuvalu General Election 2006 |date = 2006|url= https://www.academia.edu/4352305/The_Tuvalu_General_Election_2006| access-date=11 April 2015}}</ref> He also served as the Minister of Education, Sports and Health, in the government of the [[Prime Minister of Tuvalu|Prime Minister]], [[Apisai Ielemia]].<ref name="GH2006"/> He remained as minister until 2010 when he was appointed as governor-general. Italeli was elected to represent [[Nui (atoll)|Nui]] in the [[Parliament of Tuvalu]] on a non-partisan basis; this lack of alignment is not unusual in the [[politics of Tuvalu]]; unusually for [[Tuvalu]], Italeli represented a constituency where [[trilingualism]] is a feature, since many inhabitants of Nui originate from [[Kiribati]], and thus speak [[Gilbertese language|Gilbertese]], in addition to [[Tuvaluan language|Tuvaluan]] and English, the fluency of which varies among local people. His younger brother, [[Isaia Italeli]], was elected to Parliament, also as MP for Nui, in the [[2010 Tuvaluan general election|September 2010 general election]], and subsequently became [[Speaker of the Parliament of Tuvalu|Speaker]], then Minister for Works and Natural Resources in the [[Telavi Ministry]].<ref>[http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2327_E.htm Tuvalu: 2010 general election], [[Inter-Parliamentary Union]]</ref><ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-t/tuvalu.html Tuvalu: Cabinet] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528053923/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-t/tuvalu.html |date=28 May 2010 }}, [[Central Intelligence Agency]]</ref> ==Governor-General== In 2010, Italeli was appointed [[Governor-General of Tuvalu]] by [[Elizabeth II]], [[Queen of Tuvalu]]. He was appointed to the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George as a Knight Grand Cross ([[GCMG]]) on 21 June 2010. In 2013, Italeli faced a political crisis when Prime Minister [[Willy Telavi]]'s government lost [[2013 Nukufetau by-election|a crucial by-election on 28 June]] and thereby lost its majority in [[Parliament of Tuvalu|parliament]]. The opposition thereafter held a majority of seats (eight to seven) and immediately called for the Prime Minister to advise that parliament be reconvened.<ref>[http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/1636/tuvalus-opposition-waiting-to-hear-from-gg/ "Tuvalu’s Opposition waiting to hear from GG"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108011424/http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/1636/tuvalus-opposition-waiting-to-hear-from-gg/ |date=8 January 2014 }}, ''[[Islands Business]]'', 1 July 2013</ref> Telavi responded that, under the constitution, parliament was required to convene only once a year and he was thus under no obligation to advise the Governor-General to summon it until December 2013.<ref>[http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=77230 "Parliament needs one yearly meeting only says defiant Tuvalu PM"], Radio New Zealand International, 2 July 2013</ref> The opposition turned to Italeli and, on 3 July, he exercised his [[reserve power]]s by summoning parliament, against the Prime Minister's wishes, on 30 July.<ref>[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=21 September 2013 }}, ''Islands Business'', 3 July 2013</ref> With only five members of the governing party and eight members of the opposition party in the legislature,<ref name=IB080813>{{cite news|url=http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/2146/tuvalu-govt-bombshells/ |last=Matau |first=Robert |title=Tuvalu govt bombshells |date=30 July 2013 |newspaper=Island Business |access-date=8 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429162109/http://islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/2146/tuvalu-govt-bombshells/ |archive-date=29 April 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> the Speaker of the Parliament, [[Kamuta Latasi]], still refused to allow a vote of non-confidence and [[Taom Tanukale]], a member of Telavi's party, resigned his seat in parliament, prompting Telavi to assert that no confidence vote should be held until a by-election was conducted in Tanukale's district, but without giving a date for such an election.<ref name=IB010814/> The opposition subsequently appealed again to the Governor-General,<ref name=IB010814>{{cite news|url=http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/2183/gg-appoints-sopoaga-as-tuvalus-caretaker-pm/ |last=Matau |first=Robert |title=GG appoints Sopoaga as Tuvalu's caretaker PM |date=1 August 2013 |newspaper=Island Business |access-date=8 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010153108/http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/tuvalu/2183/gg-appoints-sopoaga-as-tuvalus-caretaker-pm/ |archive-date=10 October 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> who then, on 1 August, replaced Telavi with the former opposition leader [[Enele Sopoaga]] as prime minister and ordered that parliament sit until 2 August to allow for the vote of non-confidence regarding Telavi's government to take place.<ref name=ABC>{{cite news| url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-01/tuvalu-government-in-crisis/4859432| title=Tuvalu government faces constitutional crisis| date=1 August 2013| publisher=Australia Network News| access-date=8 August 2013}}</ref> On the same day, Telavi declared he had written to [[Elizabeth II]], the [[Monarchy of Tuvalu|Queen of Tuvalu]], advising her to replace Italeli as governor general and that Italeli "had been fired".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-06/tuvalu-new-pm-confident-of-winning-next-election/4869580| last=Cooney| first=Campbell| title=Confident Tuvalu PM voice for climate change| date=6 August 2013| publisher=ABC| access-date=8 August 2013}}</ref> The Queen gave no indication of her reaction to Telavi's letter, leaving Italeli's position secure.<ref name=ABC /> ==Second term in parliament== Italeli was elected as a member of parliament for Nui in the [[2024 Tuvaluan general election]].<ref name="RNZ-24-1-27"/> He follows the path set by Sir [[Tomu Sione]] who returned to the parliament following his term as Governor-General.<ref>{{cite web |work=PacificIslands Report |title=Tuvalu Elects 12 Members of Parliament |date=27 March 1998 |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/1998/03/27/tuvalu-elects-12-members-parliament |access-date=6 October 2021}}</ref> ==See also== * [[Politics of Tuvalu]] * [[Tuvaluan constitutional crisis]] {{s-start}} {{s-gov}} {{s-bef|before=[[Kamuta Latasi]]<br />{{small|Acting}}}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Governor General of Tuvalu]]|years=2010–2019}} {{s-aft|after=[[Teniku Talesi]]<br>{{small|Acting}}}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=[[Feleti Teo]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Attorney-General of Tuvalu|years=2002 – 2006}} {{s-aft|after=[[Eselealofa Apinelu]]}} {{s-end}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[http://iakobaitaleli.gov.tv Sir Italeli Commonwealth Secretary-General campaign website] {{commons category}} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Italeli, Iakoba}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Attorneys General of Tuvalu]] [[Category:Governors-General of Tuvalu]] [[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George]] [[Category:People from Nui (atoll)]] [[Category:Members of the Parliament of Tuvalu]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:International Maritime Law Institute alumni]]'