Pre-Crisis Phase (October 1, 1978-present): Tuvalu formally achieved its independence from the United Kingdom within the British Commonwealth on October 1, 1978. Sir Toaripi Lauti was appointed as prime minister, and Sir Fiatau Penitala Teo was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II as Governor-General of Tuvalu on October 1, 1978. Parliamentary elections were held on September 8, 1981, and Independents won 12 out of 12 seats in the parliament. Sir Tomasi Puapua was elected as prime minister, and he was sworn in as prime minister on September 8, 1981. Parliamentary elections were held on September 12, 1985, and Independents won 12 out of 12 seats in the parliament. Sir Tamasi Puapua was re-elected as prime minister on September 21, 1985. Sir Tupua Leupena was appointed as Governor-General of Tuvalu by Queen Elizabeth II on March 1, 1986. Parliamentary elections were held on September 27, 1989, and Independents won 12 out of 12 seats in the parliament. Bikenibeu Paeniu was elected as prime minister, and he was sworn in as prime minister on October 16, 1989. Sir Toaripi Lauti was appointed as Governor-General of Tuvalu by Queen Elizabeth II on October 1, 1990. Parliamentary elections were held on September 2, 1993, and Independents (six pro-government and six opposition) won 12 out of 12 seats in the parliament. Since supporters of Prime Minister Bikenibeu Paeniu won only six out of 12 seats in the parliament, Governor-General Toaripi Lauti dissolved parliament on September 22, 1993. Parliamentary elections were held on November 25, 1993, and Independents won 12 out of 12 seats in the parliament. Sir Tomu Sione was appointed as Governor-General of Tuvalu by Queen Elizabeth II on December 1, 1993. Sir Kamuta Latasi was elected as prime minster by a vote of seven votes to five votes, and he was sworn in as prime minister on December 10, 1993. Sir Tulaga Manuella was appointed as Governor-General of Tuvalu by Queen Elizabeth II on June 21, 1994. Prime Minister Kamuta Latasi’s government was defeated in a vote on no-confidence in the parliament on December 18, 1996. Bikenibeu Paeniu was elected as prime minster, and he was sworn in as prime minister on December 24, 1996. Governor-General Tulaga Manuella dissolved parliament on December 18, 1997. Parliamentary elections were held on March 26, 1998, and Independents won 12 out of 12 seats in the parliament. Prime Minister Bikenibeu Paeniu was re-elected as prime minister on April 8, 1998. Sir Tomasi Puapua was appointed as Governor-General of Tuvalu by Queen Elizabeth II on June 26, 1998. Ionatana Ionatana was elected as prime minister, and he was sworn in as prime minister on April 27, 1999. Tuvalu was formally admitted as the 189th member of the United Nations (UN) on September 5, 2000. Prime Minister Ionatana Ionatana died on December 8, 2000, and Lagitupu Tuilimu was sworn in as acting prime minister. Faimalaga Luka was elected as prime minster, and he was sworn in as prime minister on February 24, 2001. Koloa Talake was elected as prime minister, and he was sworn in as prime minister on December 14, 2001. Parliamentary elections were held on July 25, 2002, and Independents won 15 out of 15 seats in the parliament. Saufatu Sopoanga was elected as prime minister on August 2, 2002, and he was sworn in as prime minster on August 24, 2002. Faimalaga Luka was appointed as Governor-General of Tuvalu by Queen Elizabeth II on September 9, 2003. Maatia Toafa was elected as prime minister, and he was sworn in as prime minister on August 27, 2004. Sir Filoimea Telito was appointed as Governor-General of Tuvalu by Queen Elizabeth II on April 15, 2005. Parliamentary elections were held on August 3, 2006, and Independents won 15 out of 15 seats in the parliament. Apisai Ielemia was elected as prime minister, and he was sworn in as prime minister on August 14, 2006. Some 65 percent of voters rejected a constitutional amendment abolishing the monarchy of Tuvalu and establishing a republic in a referendum held on April 20, 2008. Sir Iakoba Italeli was appointed as Governor-General of Tuvalu by Queen Elizabeth II on April 16, 2010. Governor-General Iakoba Italeli dissolved parliament on August 13, 2010. Maatia Toafa was elected as prime minister, and he was sworn in as prime minister on September 29, 2010. Parliamentary elections were held on September 16, 2010, and Independents won 15 out of 15 seats in the parliament. Maatia Tofa was re-elected as prime minister by a vote of eight to seven on September 29, 2010. Prime Minister Maatia Toafa was dismissed following a vote of no-confidence in the parliament on December 15, 2010. Willy Telavi was elected as prime minister by a vote of eight to seven, and he was sworn in as prime minister on December 24, 2010. Due to a shortage of drinking water, the government declared a state of emergency on September 28, 2011. The governments of Australia and New Zealand airlifted supplies and fresh water to Tuvalu beginning on October 3, 2011. The Pacific Environment Community (PEC) Fund, funded by the Japanese government, approved a $4 million desalination project for the island of Tuvalu on October 7, 2011. The government lifted the state of emergency on October 28, 2011. The Japanese government provided economic assistance (spare parts for desalination units) to the government on November 5, 2011. Minister of Finance Lotoala Metia died suddenly on December 21, 2012, resulting in the government losing its one-seat majority in the parliament. The opposition requested a by-election for the vacant seat, but the prime minster refused to do so. The Supreme Court ordered a by-election with 28 days for the vacant parliamentary seats. The by-election was held on June 28, 2013, and an opposition candidate defeated a government candidate with 67 percent of the vote. On July 3, 2013, Governor-General Iakoba Italeli ordered the parliament to convene at the end of the month. On July 30, 2013, Prime Minister Willy Telavi tabled a motion to dissolve parliament, but the decision was rejected by a 8 to 5 vote in the parliament. The same day, Health Minister Taom Tanukale announced his resignation from parliament. On July 31, 2013, the parliament was adjourned for six weeks to allow for a by-election. On August 1, 2013, Prime Minister Willy Telavi announced that he had called on Queen Elizabeth II to dismiss Governor-General Iakoba Italeli. The same day, governor-General Iakoba Italeli issued a proclamation dismissing Prime Minister Willy Telavi from his position, and appointed opposition leader Enele Sopoaga as acting prime minister. Enele Sopoaga was elected as prime minister, and he was sworn in as the new prime minister on August 5, 2013. Parliamentary elections were held on March 31, 2015, and Independents won 15 out of 15 seats in the parliament. Enele Sopoaga was sworn in for another terms as prime minister on April 10, 2015.
[Sources: Agence France Presse (AFP), September 15, 2010, August 2, 2013; Australia Network News (ANN), August 1, 2013, August 4, 2013; British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), September 6, 2000, October 3, 2011, October 4, 2011, October 7, 2011; Islands Business (IB), August 5, 2013, August 7, 2013, August 11, 2013; Japanese Foreign Ministry, November 4, 2011; Radio New Zealand International, September 29, 2010, December 24, 2010, August 3, 2013; Xinhua News Agency (XNA), October 28, 2011.]
Selected Bibliography
Taafaki, Tauaasa. 1998. “Tuvalu – Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events,” The Contemporary Pacific, pp, 240-243.