Cabinet of Tuvalu
The Cabinet of Tuvalu is the executive branch of the government of Tuvalu.
It is drawn from, and responsible to, the legislative branch, the monocameral Palamene o Tuvalu. After every legislative election, members of parliament elect one of their own as prime minister. The latter then chooses his ministers among the MPs, to form a cabinet.. Initially, the Constitution provided that the number of members of cabinet must not be higher than one third of the number of members of parliament. This, however, was amended by the Constitution of Tuvalu Act 2007, which provides that up to half of the members of parliament may be appointed to cabinet. There are currently 16 MPs.
As there are no political parties in Tuvalu, and MPs are independent members representing the interest of their constituency, the prime minister is traditionally careful to appoint MPs from different parts of the country as his cabinet members.
The Constitution of Tuvalu states that the cabinet is responsible to parliament. The latter may dismiss it through a vote of no confidence.
Current Cabinet
Following the 2019 Tuvaluan general election, on 19 September 2019, the members of parliament elected Kausea Natano from Funafuti as Prime Minister, and Samuelu Teo was elected as Speaker of the Parliament of Tuvalu. Natano appointed the members of the Cabinet, which met for the first time on 20 September 2019.| Portfolio | Minister | Constituency | Notes |
| Prime Minister | Kausea Natano | Funafuti | was Deputy Prime Minister in the Telavi Ministry |
| Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Fisheries & Trade | Minute Alapati Taupo | Nanumaga | |
| Minister for Justice, Communication & Foreign Affairs | Simon Kofe | Funafuti | |
| Minister for Education, Youth & Sports | Timi Melei | Nanumea | |
| Minister for Public Utilities & Environment | Ampelosa Tehulu | Nanumea | |
| Minister for Finance | Seve Paeniu | Nukulaelae | |
| Minister for Health, Social Welfare & Gender | Isaia Taape | Vaitupu | |
| Minister for Home Affairs & Agriculture | Katepu Laoi | Niutao | |
| Minister for Transport, Energy & Tourism | Nielu Meisake | Vaitupu |
Sopoaga Cabinet (2013-2019)
On 1 August 2013, Governor-General of Tuvalu Sir Iakoba Italeli made an unprecedented use of his reserve powers in removing prime minister Willy Telavi from office and appointed opposition leader Enele Sopoaga as interim prime minister. On 4 August 2013, Sopoaga was elected as prime minister by 8 votes to 5. He was sworn in and appointed his ministers to the cabinet a day later.The 2015 Tuvaluan general election was held on 31 March. Vete Sakaio, the deputy prime minister and minister for public utilities, was not re-elected to parliament.
Enele Sopoaga was sworn in as prime minister and appointed the ministers to the cabinet on 10 April.
Cabinets 2010-2013
Telavi Cabinet (2010–2013)
The government led by Maatia Toafa remained in office for 3 months. In December 2010, Willy Telavi, minister for home affairs in the Toafa Ministry, crossed the floor, joined the opposition and enabled it to bring down the Toafa's government through a vote of no confidence, which was carried by eight votes to seven. On 24 December, Telavi was elected as the Prime Minister, defeating Environment Minister Enele Sopoaga by another 8–7 vote. Telavi appointed his cabinet on that same day, Christmas Eve.Isaia Italeli, minister for works and natural resources, died suddenly on 19 July 2011, while attending a regional meeting in Apia, Samoa. In August, his widow, Pelenike Isaia, was elected to his seat in parliament in a by-election in the constituency of Nui, thereby saving the government's parliamentary majority. She was subsequently appointed to cabinet as minister for home affairs. She is the second woman in parliament, and in cabinet, in Tuvalu's history.
On 21 December 2012, finance minister Lotoala Metia died in hospital, of unspecified causes. The by-election caused by his death would decide the future of the Telavi government, reduced by his death to a parity of seven seats apiece with the opposition in parliament. The government succeeded in postponing it until 28 June, whereupon it was won by the opposition candidate Elisala Pita, with two-thirds of the vote.
On 30 July 2013, as the government was about to face a motion of no confidence, health minister Taom Tanukale unexpectedly resigned from Parliament altogether. As a consequence of the death of Metia, education minister Falesa Pitoi being ill and outside the country since December 2012, and Tanukale having resigned, Telavi was left with only three active government ministers other than himself: deputy prime minister Kausea Natano, foreign affairs minister Apisai Ielemia, and home affairs minister Pelenike Isaia; he also had the support of the speaker. The following day, the reason for Tanukale's resignation became apparent. The speaker, Sir Kamuta Latasi, rejected the opposition's attempt to table a motion of no confidence, on the grounds that there was now a vacant seat in parliament. Latasi adjourned parliament, and ruled that it would not reconvene until a by-election had been held - thus prolonging Telavi's minority government once more. However, a day later on 1 August 2013, the governor-general and head of state, Sir Iakoba Italeli, sent out a proclamation removing Telavi from office as prime minister, and appointing opposition leader Enele Sopoaga as interim prime minister. Telavi had reportedly announced his intention of removing Italeli as governor-general. Opposition spokesman Taukelina Finikaso praised Italeli for having "uphld the constitution", since Telavi had lacked a parliamentary majority with which to govern.
His cabinet lasted officially until 2 August 2013, when it was formally voted out of office by the opposition.
2nd Toafa Cabinet (2010)
This short-lived cabinet was appointed by prime minister Maatia Toafa on 29 September 2010, following the general election on 16 September. It included a number of first time MPs, who had supported Toafa in his bid for the premiership. Sopoaga's appointment as minister for foreign affairs was described as a clear sign of the importance the government placed on climate change issues within its foreign policy.| Portfolio | Minister | Constituency | Notes |
| Prime Minister | Maatia Toafa | Nanumea | Was previously Prime Minister from 2004 to 2006 |
| Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Environment and Labour | Enele Sopoaga | Nukufetau | First time MP Diplomat; renowned as Tuvalu's "climate change negotiator" |
| Minister of Education, Youth and Sport | Namoliki Sualiki | Nukulaelae | Former teacher |
| Minister of Finance | Monise Laafai | Nanumaga | First time MP Businessman |
| Minister of Health | Fauoa Maani | Niutao | First time MP Former journalist and clerk to Parliament |
| Minister of Works and Natural resources | Vete Sakaio | Niutao | First time MP Civil engineer |
| Minister of Communication, Transport and Fisheries | Taukelina Finikaso | Vaitupu | Former Minister of Communication, Transport and Tourism |
| Minister of Home Affairs | Willy Telavi | Nanumea | Former Minister of Home Affairs and Rural Development |
Cabinet 2006-2010
Ielemia Cabinet (2006–2010)
Following the 2006 general election Apisai Ielemia was elected as prime minister. His cabinet consisted of the following members: Ielemia continued as prime minister until the 2010 Tuvaluan general election.| Portfolio | Minister | Constituency | Notes |
| Prime Minister; Foreign Minister | Apisai Ielemia | Vaitupu | |
| Deputy Prime Minister; Minister for Natural Resources and the Environment | Tavau Teii | Niutao | |
| Minister for Communications | Taukelina Finikaso | Vaitupu | Initially appointed Minister of Communications and Works. |
| Minister for Communications | Taukelina Finikaso | Vaitupu | Subsequently appointed Minister for Communications, Transport and Tourism. |
| Minister for Education, Sports and Health | Iakoba Italeli | Nui | |
| Minister for Finance and Economic Planning | Lotoala Metia | Nukufetau | |
| Minister for Home Affairs and Rural Development | Willy Telavi | Nanumea | |
| Minister for Public Utilities and Industries | Kausea Natano | Funafuti |
Cabinets 2002-2006
1st Toafa Cabinet (2004–2006)
succeeded Saufatu Sopoanga as prime minister. Sopoanga resigned from parliament on 27 August 2004, after his government was deposed in a vote of no confidence. Toafa, who was deputy prime minister at the time, became acting prime minister. A by-election was held on 7 October 2004 and Saufatu Sopoanga regained his seat. Maatia Toafa was elected prime minister on 11 October 2004 with a vote of 8:7. Toafa also became minister of foreign affairs. Saufatu Sopoanga became deputy prime minister and minister for works, transport and communication. Bikenibeu Paeniu was the minister of finance. Toafa remained prime minister until the 2006 Tuvaluan general election.Sopoanga Cabinet (2002–2004)
Following the 202 general election, on 2 August 2002 Saufatu Sopoanga, who had been minister of finance in the previous administration, was elected prime minister. The deputy prime minister was Maatia Toafa and Bikenibeu Paeniu was the minister of finance. Sopoanga resigned from parliament on 27 August 2004, after his government was deposed in a vote of no confidence.Cabinets 1998-2002
Talake Cabinet (2001–2002)
became prime minister on 14 December 2001, after his predecessor Faimalaga Luka had been ousted by parliament in a motion of no confidence. This was Talake's cabinet just prior to the July 2002 general election, in which Talake lost his seat in parliament:| Portfolio | Minister | Constituency | Notes |
| Prime Minister | Koloa Talake | Vaitupu | |
| Minister for Finance and Economic Planning | Saufatu Sopoanga | Nukufetau | |
| Minister for Health, Education and Sports | Alesana Seluka | Nui | |
| Minister for Internal Affairs and Local Government | Otinielu Tausi | Nanumaga | |
| Minister for Natural Resources | Samuelu Teo | Niutao | |
| Minister for Works, Energy and Communications | Kokea Malua | Nanumea |
Luka Cabinet (2001)
became the prime minister on 24 February 2001 until he was replaced by Koloa Talake after a vote of no confidence on 14 December 2001.Tuilimu Cabinet (2000-2001)
was acting prime minister from 8 December 2000 to 24 February 2001.Ionatana Cabinet (1999-2000)
was elected as prime minister following the resignation of Bikenibeu Paeniu following a vote of no confidence on 27 April 1999. Ionatana died on 8 December 2000.3rd Paeniu Cabinet (1998-1999)
Following the 1998 general election, Bikenibeu Paeniu was re-elected prime minister on 8 April 1998; He appointed his cabinet on the same day. Bikenibeu Paeniu remained as prime minister until he resigned following a vote of no confidence on 27 April 1999.| Portfolio | Minister | Constituency | Notes |
| Prime Minister | Bikenibeu Paeniu | Nukulaelae | |
| Minister for Finance and Economic Planning | Alesana Seluka | Nui | also Minister for Tourism, Trade and Commerce |
| Minister for Health, Women and Community Affairs | Ionatana Ionatana | Funafuti | also Minister for Education and Culture |
| Minister for Internal Affairs and Local Government | Kokea Malua | Nanumea | also Deputy Prime Minister |
| Minister for Natural Resources | Kokea Malua | Nanumea | |
| Minister for Works, Energy and Communications | Otinielu Tausi | Nanumaga |
Cabinets 1993-1998
2nd Paeniu Cabinet (1996-1998)
was elected as prime minister for the second time following the resignation of Kamuta Latasi as the result of a vote of no confidence on 24 December 1996.| Portfolio | Minister | Constituency | Notes |
| Prime Minister | Bikenibeu Paeniu | Nukulaelae | |
| Minister for Finance and Economic Planning | Alesana Seluka | Nui | |
| Minister for Health, Women and Community Affairs | Ionatana Ionatana | Funafuti | also Minister for Education and Culture |
| Minister for Tourism, Trade and Commerce | Ionatana Ionatana | Funafuti | |
| Minister for Natural Resources | Otinielu Tausi | Nanumaga | also Deputy Prime Minister. |
| Home Affairs and Rural Development | Otinielu Tausi | Nanumaga |
Latasi Cabinet (1993-1996)
The general election was held on 2 September 1993. In the subsequent parliament the members were evenly split in their support of the incumbent prime minister Bikenibeu Paeniu and the former prime minister Tomasi Puapua.As a consequence, the governor-general, Sir Toaripi Lauti, dissolved the parliament on 22 September and a further election took place on 25 November 1993. The subsequent parliament elected Kamuta Latasi as prime minister on 10 December 1993, with a 7:5 majority over the group a members of parliament headed by former prime minister Bikenibeu Paeniu. The deputy prime minister was Otinielu Tausi. Kamuta Latasi ceased to be the prime minister as the result of a vote of no confidence on 24 December 1996.
Cabinets 1977-1993
1st Paeniu Cabinet (1989-1993)
Following the 1989 general election Bikenibeu Paeniu was subsequently elected as prime minister, with a five-member cabinet formed on 16 October 1989.2nd Puapua Cabinet (1985-1989)
The general election was held on 12 September 1985, with nine members re-elected including prime minister Tomasi Puapua and finance minister Henry Naisali. On 21 September, Tomasi Puapua was re-elected as prime minister; he subsequently appointed a five-member cabinet.1st Puapua Cabinet (1981-1985)
The first elections after independence were not held until 8 September 1981. Dr. Tomasi Puapua, was elected as prime minister with a 7:5 majority over the group a members of parliament headed by former prime minister Toaripi Lauti.Lauti Cabinet (1977-1981)
Following the result of the 1974 Ellice Islands self-determination referendum, the Tuvaluan Order 1975, which took effect on 1 October 1975, recognised Tuvalu as a separate British dependency with its own government.Elections to the House of Assembly of the British Colony of Tuvalu were held on 27 August 1977; with Toaripi Lauti being appointed Chief Minister in the House of Assembly of the Colony of Tuvalu on 1 October 1977. The House of Assembly was dissolved in July 1978 with the government of Toaripi Lauti continuing as a caretaker government until the 1981 elections were held. Toaripi Lauti became the first prime minister of the Parliament of Tuvalu or Palamene o Tuvalu on 1 October 1978 when Tuvalu became an independent nation.