1989 Tuvaluan general election

General elections were held in Tuvalu on 27 September 1989.[1] Bikenibeu Paeniu was elected Prime Minister following the elections and formed a five-member cabinet composed largely of opponents of the previous Prime Minister Tomasi Puapua.[2]

1989 Tuvaluan general election

← 1985 27 September 1989 1993 →

All 12 seats in the Parliament of Tuvalu
  First party
 
Party Independents
Seats won 12

Prime Minister0000000 before election

Tomasi Puapua

Subsequent
Prime Minister

Bikenibeu Paeniu

Campaign edit

As there were no political parties, all candidates for the twelve seats ran as independents. The Nui constituency was contested by four members of the same family.[3] Bikenibeu Paeniu was the only candidate in Nukulaelae and was elected unopposed.[3]

Results edit

For the first time, a woman was elected, with Naama Maheu Latasi winning one of the seats on Nanumea. Her husband Kamuta Latasi was elected in Funafuti.[3] In Nui Minister for Commerce and Natural Resources Lale Seluka was defeated by his brother Alesana Seluka.[3]

PartySeats+/–
Independents120
Total120
Source: Nohlen et al.

Elected members edit

Constituency Member
Funafuti Ionatana Ionatana
Kamuta Latasi
Nanumanga Otinielu Tausi
Nanumea Kokea Malua
Naama Maheu Latasi
Niutao Vave Founuku
Tomu Sione
Nui Alesana Seluka
Nukufetau Solomona Metia Tealofi
Nukulaelae Bikenibeu Paeniu
Vaitupu Tomasi Puapua
Iuta Tanielu
Source: PIM

Aftermath edit

Following the elections Kokea Malua was elected Speaker and Bikenibeu Paeniu elected Prime Minister. Paeniu subsequently formed a five-member cabinet, keeping the Foreign Affairs and Economic Planning portfolios for himself. Alesana Seluka became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Commerce, Naama Maheu Latasi was appointed Minister of Health, Education and Community Affairs, Ionatana Ionatana as Minister of Works and Communications and Tomu Sione as Minister of Natural Resources and Home Affairs.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p829 ISBN 0-19-924959-8
  2. ^ "Palamene o Tuvalu (Parliament of Tuvalu)". Inter-Parliamentary Union. 1989. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d e Tuvalu: A new leadership Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1989, p26