Tuvaluan general election, 1998

General elections were held in Tuvalu on 26 March 1998.^[1] As there were no political parties, all candidates for the 12 seats ran as independents, with seven of the incumbents retaining their seats. Following the election, Bikenibeu Paeniu was re-elected Prime Minister.^[2]

1998 elections to the Parliament of Tuvalu

On 18 December 1997 the parliament was dissolved and the general election was held on 26 March 1998. During the election campaign, candidates from the incumbent government and the opposition traded allegations of sexual and financial misconduct. The result of the election was that 7 existing members were returned (including Bikenibeu Paeniu, Otinielu Tausi, Ionatana Ionatana, Tomasi Puapua and Dr. Alesana Seluka);^[3] 2 members of previous parliaments were elected (including Kokea Malua to represent Nanumea);^[3] and 3 new members were elected: Lagitupu Tuilimu to represent Nanumea; Rev. Teleke Peleti Lauti, to represent Funafuti; and Samuelu Teo to represent Niutao.^[3] The returning opposition MPs were Koloa Talake and Faimalaga Luka.^[3] Former Prime Minister Kamuta Latasi, who represented Funafuti, lost his seat.^[3]

Bikenibeu Paeniu was re-elected prime minister on 8 April 1998 with a 10:2 vote against Koloa Talake.^[2][4]

Paeniu announced his cabinet, Funafuti MP Ionatana Ionatana remained Minister for Health, Women and Community Affairs and Minister for Education and Culture. Ionatana had also been the Minister for Tourism, Trade and Commerce; this portfolio was given to Nui MP Alesana Kleis Seluka, who retained his former portfolio of Finance and Economic Planning. MP for Nanumaga, Otinielu Tausi was moved to the Ministry of Works, Energy and Communications. Nanumea MP Kokea Malua, who returned to parliament in the election, was appointed Minister for Natural Resources and the Environment as well as Home Affairs and Rural Development. Malua also was appointed Deputy Prime Minister.^[4] Tomu Sione was appointed as Speaker of the parliament.

Results

Constituency	Members	Notes
Funafuti	Ionatana Ionatana	Died on 8 December 2000
	Rev. Teleke Peleti Lauti
Nanumaga	Otinielu Tausi
Nanumea	Kokea Malua
	Lagitupu Tuilimu
Niutao	Samuelu Teo
	Tomu Sione
Nui	Dr. Alesana Seluka
Nukufetau	Faimalaga Luka
Nukulaelae	Bikenibeu Paeniu
Vaitupu	Koloa Talake
	Dr. Tomasi Puapua

Changes of prime minister

Bikenibeu Paeniu remained as prime minister until he resigned following the vote on a motion of no confidence on 27 April 1999. Ionatana Ionatana was elected as prime minister on 27 April 1999.^[5] He died on 8 December 2000.^[6] Lagitupu Tuilimu was acting prime minister from 8 December 2000 to 24 February 2001.

Faimalaga Luka became the Prime Minister of Tuvalu on 23 February 2001.^[5] Luka's government lasted until December 2001, when he lost office as the consequence of a motion of no confidence.^[5] On 13 December 2001 the former finance minister Koloa Talake was appointed prime minister.^[5][7]

References

1. Nohlen, D, Grotz, F & Hartmann, C (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. 1998. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
3. "Tuvalu Elects 12 Members of Parliament". East-West Center Center for Pacific Islands Studies/University of Hawai‘i at Manoa / PACNEWS. 27 March 1998. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
4. "Paeniu Re-Elected Tuvalu Prime Minister". Pacific Islands Development Program/East-West Center Center for Pacific Islands Studies/University of Hawai‘i at Manoa /PACNEWS/tuvaluislands.com. 8 April 1998. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
5. Lansford, Tom (2015). Political Handbook of the World 2015. CQ Press.
6. Field, Michael (9 December 2000). "Tuvalu's Prime Minister Ionatana Dies After Giving Speech". Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
7. Page, Kogan (2004). Asia and Pacific Review 2003/04. Kogan Page Publishers. p. 261.