Two major issues in the election were the Falepili Union treaty, which requiries both Tuvalu and Australia to "mutually agree" Tuvalu's foreign security arrangements in exchange for allowing Tuvaluans displaced by climate change to immigrate to Australia, and the country's diplomatic recognition of Taiwan within the context of great power competition between the United States and China for influence in the region.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
Feleti Teo was appointed as prime minister on 26 February 2024 after having been elected unopposed by the parliament.
Background
The previous election in 2019 saw a high turnover among the 16 members of parliament, seven of whom were the first-term members. Several cabinet ministers lost their seats. There were two female candidates, and Dr Puakena Boreham retained a seat in parliament.[11] In the vote for prime minister, held shortly after the election, parliament elected Kausea Natano, defeating the incumbent head of government Enele Sopoaga, who had served since 2013.[12][13] The defeat of Sopoaga, who was pro-Taiwan, caused some to speculate that the new prime minister would sever ties with Taipei in favour of China.[14] The Solomon Islands, another Pacific Islands country, had made the switch days before.[15] However, Prime Minister Natano later assured that Tuvalu would maintain its diplomatic ties and recognition of Taiwan.[12] As of 2024, Tuvalu is one of only 12 countries that have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan.[16]
Falepili Union treaty
In November 2023, Prime Minister Natano signed the Falepili Union treaty with Australia. A significant factor of the treaty grants a pathway for 280 citizens of Tuvalu to migrate to Australia each year to enable climate-related mobility for Tuvaluans. In exchange, the agreement allows Australia an effective veto power over Tuvalu's foreign security agreements as the 2 countries must "mutually agree" such security agreements.[17] Natano said the treaty was essential in preserving Tuvalu's identity.[18] However, former Prime Minister Sopoaga claimed the Falepili Union would undermine the country's sovereignty and vowed to repeal it should he head a government again after the election.[4][17] Sopoaga emphasised the sensitivity of conserving the sovereignty of the Pacific Island nations amidst a period where bigger countries, such as the United States and China, are competing for influence in the region. Former Foreign Minister Simon Kofe also criticised the treaty and pledged to renegotiate with Australia. Kofe highlighted Tuvalu's contracts with numerous international companies, including those that provide the country with satellite connections and questioned if it were necessary for Tuvalu to require Australia's permission to engage with such companies.[19]
Electoral system
The 16 members of parliament are elected from eight two-seat constituencies via plurality block voting.[12][20][21] There are no formal political parties in Tuvalu, so all candidates contest as independents.[19] Candidates are required to be Tuvaluan citizens and at least 21 years old. If, by the registration deadline, no more than two eligible candidates have registered to run in a constituency, these nominees are then, on that day, declared by law to be elected. Candidates have until the day before the election to withdraw if they wish to. All citizens aged 18 and older are eligible to vote; voting is not compulsory.[21][22] There are about 6,000 eligible voters in this election.[23]
The election
Voting began on 26 January 2024 at 8:00 local time (UTC+12:00), concluding at 16:00.[24] The elections officer said turnout was high as voting commenced.[25]
Enele Sopoaga, the prime minister from 2013 to 2019, was re-elected in the Nukufetau electorate.[26] Former foreign minister Simon Kofe retained his seat in the Funafuti electorate.[28][5][30]
After the results are released, ships were sent to pick up winning candidates in order for them to assemble in the capital Funafuti,[31] although dangerous sea conditions delayed their travel.[32][33][34][35] Election commissioner Tufoua Panapa said that the members of the new parliament would convene to vote for a prime minister, at a time notified by the governor general.[25]
There are three groups of MPs in the new parliament: six newly elected members; six members of the last government; and four from the previous opposition group.[35]
Teo was a member of the eminent persons panel which worked with the governments of Tuvalu and Australia to draft the Falepili Union.[43][44] In a statement published by Simon Kofe on 28 February 2024, the Teo government gave support for the "broad principles and objectives" of the Falepili Union, while noting "the absence of transparency and consultations in socializing and informing the public in Tuvalu of such an important and groundbreaking initiative";[45] and indicated that Tuvalu will seek changes to make it "workable".[46][47]
The statement of 28 February 2024 also address Tuvalu's relations with Taiwan: "The new government wishes to reaffirm its commitment to the long-term and lasting special relationship between Tuvalu and the Republic of China, Taiwan".[45][47][48]
In his first interview as prime minister, Teo said "[o]ur ties with Taiwan are purely based on democratic principles and they have been very loyal to us."[49] Teo said the part of the Falepili Union he wanted to revisit was that both countries must "mutually agree" on any security arrangements that Tuvalu may want with other countries.[49]
In a later interview Teo said that “[i]f there is a way that stops short of revising the treaty that guarantees the integrity of the sovereignty of Tuvalu, then we will certainly explore those options.”[50] Subsequently Teo said he wanted arrangements to guarantee Tuvalu’s sovereignty that "stop short of revising the treaty."[51]
Teo has said that his government's top priority was climate change,[44] and the development challenges Tuvalu faces include the need to improve medical and educational services to Tuvalu’s outer islands.[50]
Reactions
After the formation of the new government, the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, officially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China, sent a presidential delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang to Tuvalu as a show of support for newly elected Prime Minister Feleti Teo.[52][53][54]
The Australian foreign minister Penny Wong said that the country looked forward to working with the new government.[23] Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade responded to the concerns about the Falepili Union by saying the treaty “recognises that the statehood and sovereignty of Tuvalu will continue”.[50] On 26 March 2024, Pat Conroy, Australia’s Pacific minister, tabled the Falepili Union treaty in the Australian Parliament for the propose of obtaining ratification of the treaty. Conroy stated “[t]he new government of Tuvalu has confirmed its desire to proceed with the Falepili Union”.[55] Conroy confirmed that Australia would work with Tuvalu to ensure its sovereignty was respected. Conroy also stated that “Australia commits to assist Tuvalu in responding to a major natural disaster, a health pandemic, or military aggression. This is predicated on Tuvalu requesting such assistance.”[55]
Many people were opposed to this decision, telling the press he was not qualified to be president because he was black.
Related Research Articles
The politics of Tuvalu takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy, whereby the monarch is the head of state, represented by the governor-general, while the prime minister is the head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government.
The prime minister of Tuvalu is the country's head of government. According to Tuvalu's constitution, the prime minister must always be a member of the parliament and is elected by parliament in a secret ballot. Because there are no political parties in Tuvalu, any member of parliament can be nominated for the role.
Tuvalu elects a legislature on a national level. The Parliament of Tuvalu has 16 members, elected for a four-year term in 8 double-seat constituencies. Tuvalu is a de facto non-partisan democracy since it does not have political parties. The political system is based on personal alliances and loyalties derived from clan and family connections. It does tend to have both a distinct government and a distinct opposition. The 16 members of the current parliament are elected from eight two-seat constituencies via plurality block voting.
Sir Fiatau Penitala Teo was a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu. Teo was appointed Chief in the House of Chiefs of Niutao in 1945 and was reappointed as a Chief on 29 June 1997 after his service as the first Governor General of Tuvalu.
The Parliament of Tuvalu is the unicameral national legislature of Tuvalu. The place at which the parliament sits is called the Vaiaku maneapa. The maneapa on each island is an open meeting place where the chiefs and elders deliberate and make decisions.
Feleti Penitala Teo is a Tuvaluan politician and lawyer who is currently serving as the 14th Prime Minister of Tuvalu. He was elected to the Parliament of Tuvalu in the 2024 Tuvaluan general election, with his previous role being the executive director of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).
Kausea Natano 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 election and served as an MP until he was unseated in the 2024 Tuvaluan general election.
Enele Sosene Sopoaga PC is a Tuvaluan diplomat and politician who was Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 2013 to 2019.
The Cabinet of Tuvalu is the executive branch of the government of Tuvalu.
The Sopoaga Ministry was the 14th ministry of the Government of Tuvalu, led by Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga. It succeeds the Telavi Ministry upon its swearing in by Governor-General Sir Iakoba Italeli on 5 August 2013.
Samuelu Penitala Teo is a Tuvaluan politician. He is the son of Sir Fiatau Penitala Teo who was appointed as the first Governor General of Tuvalu (1978–1986) following independence from Great Britain. Samuelu Teo himself served as the Acting Governor-General of Tuvalu from January until 28 September 2021. He had succeeded Acting Governor-General Teniku Talesi and remained in office until the Rev. Tofiga Vaevalu Falani was sworn in as the 10th Governor-General in September 2021.
General elections were held in Tuvalu on 9 September 2019. There were 37 candidates seeking election to the Parliament, two of whom are women: Valisi Alimau, who was contesting in the Nukufetau electorate, and Puakena Boreham who was seeking re-election in the Nui electorate.
Simon Kofe is a Tuvaluan politician. He was appointed as the Minister for Justice, Communication & Foreign Affairs, in the cabinet of Kausea Natano following the 2019 Tuvaluan general election.
The Natano Ministry was the 15th ministry of the Government of Tuvalu, led by Prime Minister Kausea Natano. It succeeded the Sopoaga Ministry upon its swearing in by the acting Governor-General, Mrs. Teniku Talesi Honolulu, on 18 September 2019.
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Events from 2024 in Tuvalu.
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↑ Jess Marinaccio; Graeme Smith (27 January 2024). "Tuvalu's Taiwan question". Development Policy Centre. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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