Tuvalu
2023; University of Hawaii Press; Volume: 35; Issue: 1-2 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1353/cp.2023.a924477
ISSN1527-9464
Autores Tópico(s)Climate Change, Adaptation, Migration
ResumoTuvalu Lisepa Paeniu (bio) Tuvalu is an independent parliamentary democracy in the West Central South Pacific with a population of approximately eleven thousand. It is made up of eight main islands with distinct dialects and traditions. It gained independence from Great Britain on 1 October 1978, as it had been colonized in 1916 as part of the Ellice and Gilbert Islands. Tuvalu adopted to some extent the British parliamentary system and currently has eight electoral districts, seven of which are represented by two members of Parliament (mps). The eighth is Nukulaelae electoral district, which used to have a single member who served for four-year terms (ifes 2019). Elections are held every four years, and in the past, fourteen members were elected under multiple nontransferable votes, while one was elected using first-past-the-post voting. This changed in 2019 when Parliament amended the Electoral Provisions (Parliament) Act to increase the Nukulaelae constituency membership to two, consequently making Parliament consist of sixteen members (Parliament of Tuvalu 2019). Therefore, presently, Tuvalu has a unicameral system, with Parliament made up of sixteen independent members. The cabinet is formed when a majority of members of Parliament group together and convene Parliament to elect a prime minister as head of government. The constitution only allows eight ministerial [End Page 332] portfolios, thus the members of Parliament who are pro-government become government backbenchers and may only become ministers in an acting capacity (Constitution of Tuvalu 1986, Article 62[3]). The governor general, who is selected by the prime minister after consultation with Parliament, is the representative of the monarch of England as head of state (Article 55[1]). Tuvalu's parliamentary democracy has been plagued by political instability, shown by the continuous changes in head of government: Bikenibeu Paeniu, elected in 1989 and September 1993; Sir Kamuta Latasi, December 1993; Bikenibeu Paeniu, 1998; Ionatana Ionatana, 1999; Faimalaga Luka, February 2001; Koloa Talake, December 2001; Saufatu Sopoaga, August 2002; Maatia Toafa, 2004; Apisai Ielemia, 2006; Maatia Toafa, September 2010; Willy Telavi, December 2010; and Enele Sosene Sopoaga, 2013 and 2015. The political instability is caused by the lack of political parties, as majority groups forming government are usually based on familial ties or friendships, which can easily change. This happens for a variety of reasons; floor crossing is the most common, as well as by-elections following cabinet ministers' deaths that result in new members of Parliament joining the Opposition group. When the Opposition gains a majority of members, they table a motion of no confidence against the current prime minister in a parliamentary sitting, and within a day the head of government and cabinet can change. Constitutional reviews in 1986, 1992, 1997, and 2016 endeavored to address this issue but to no avail. This review will highlight the last decade of major political events and issues. On 16 September 2010, the country held its general elections whereby Maatia Toafa was elected prime minister. The Toafa government had been in power for less than three months when, on 21 December 2010, it was defeated by a successful motion of no confidence, moved by Lotoala Metia (Inter-Parliamentary Union, Palamene o Tuvalu [Parliament of Tuvalu]). Subsequently, Telavi was elected by his cabinet as prime minister on 24 December 2010 (Associated Press 2011). This cabinet did not finish the full term of four years either, as the minister of works and natural resources, Isaia Italeli Taeia, passed away in 2011. The by-elections for Nui were held a month after the minister's passing and returned his wife, Pelenike Tekinene Isaia, who replaced her husband in cabinet (Government of Tuvalu 2011). This was followed by the passing of the minister of finance, Metia, in December 2012. Subsequently, Minister of Health Taom Tanukale resigned from Parliament and cabinet in the first parliamentary sitting in 2012 (rnz 2013). The result of the passing of the two cabinet ministers was that Telavi no longer had the majority given that the minister for education was also ill and receiving medical treatment overseas. The local government in Tuvalu is distinct, as each island has an island council made up of an assembly of chiefs called the Falekaupule who annually elect the...
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