General elections were held in

Tuvalu Tuvalu ( ) is an island country in the Polynesian subregion of Oceania in the Pacific Ocean, about midway between Hawaii and Australia. It lies east-northeast of the Santa Cruz Islands (which belong to the Solomon Islands), northeast of Van ...

on 3 August 2006 to elect fifteen members to the

Parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...

. There were 5,765 eligible voters on the electoral roll. 32 candidates, including 2 women, competed for the 15 seats (the parliament had been increased from 12 to 15 elected members). All fifteen candidates elected were Independents, as there are no political parties in the country. The years before the elections had involved an uncertain economic situation with questions about the political stability with frequent changes of prime minister. There had also been questions about the integrity of some government ministers. The election saw eight of the fifteen incumbent MPs defeated, including the entire cabinet of the incumbent Prime Minister

Maatia Toafa Maatia Toafa (1 May 1954–13 November 2024) was a Tuvaluan politician, representing Nanumea, who served two non-consecutive terms as Prime Minister of Tuvalu. He first served as prime minister, and foreign minister, from 2004 to 2006, from th ...

(who did retain his seat). Eight new members were elected to the parliament. The new members of parliament are predominantly experienced civil servants, including

Taukelina Finikaso Taukelina Finikaso (born 10 January 1959) is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu. At the 2006 Tuvaluan general election, 2006 general election, he was elected MP for his home constituency of Vaitupu. He was educated in Kiribati a ...

(former diplomat);

Iakoba Italeli Sir Iakoba Taeia Italeli is a Tuvaluan politician who was the governor-general of Tuvalu from 16 April 2010, until 22 August 2019, when he resigned to contest in the 2019 general election. He was not successful in that election, however he w ...

(former attorney general); Lotoala Metia (former auditor general);

Namoliki Sualiki Namoliki Sualiki Neemia generally referred to as Namoliki Sualiki, is a Tuvaluan politician. Education and career as a teacher He obtained a Master of Education degree at James Cook University in Queensland, Australia, in 1994. His thesis, en ...

(former school principal); Willy Telavi (former police commissioner); and Falesa Pitoi (dentist). Apisai Ielemia was elected the prime minister.

Results

Aftermath

On 14 August 2006 Apisai Ielemia was elected prime minister; he had previously been a diplomat, clerk to parliament and senior civil servant.

Kamuta Latasi Sir Kamuta Latasi (born 4 September 1936) is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu from Funafuti atoll. He was elected to the Parliament of Tuvalu in 1992. Latasi served as the 4th prime minister, and foreign minister, from 1993 ...

was appointed the Speaker of Parliament. The new government sworn in by Governor-General, Reverend

Filoimea Telito Sir Filoimea Telito (19 March 1945 – 11 July 2011) was a political and religious figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu. He was born on Vaitupu where he attended Elisefou (New Ellice) primary school. He later attended King George V School (Gi ...

on 14 August comprised Apisai Ielemia as Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Tavau Teii (Niutao) Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources; Willy Telavi (Nanumea) Home Affairs; Lotoala Metia (Nukufetau) Finance, Economic Planning and Industries;

Kausea Natano Kausea Natano (born 5 July 1957) is a politician who served as the Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 19 September 2019 to 26 February 2024. He represented Funafuti as a Member of Parliament. He was first elected in the 2002 Tuvaluan general electio ...

(Funafuti) Public Utilities;

(Vaitupu) Communications and Works; Italeli Taeia (Nui) Education, Sports and Health. Sir Tomu Sione (Niutao) acted as Chairman of the Caucus.

References

Elections in Tuvalu

General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry. In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...

Election and referendum articles with incomplete results

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