2014 Nanumea by-election

A by-election was held in the Nanumea constituency in Tuvalu on 19 September 2014. It followed the resignation of the incumbent, Willy Telavi, in August.[1]

Context

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Willy Telavi had been Prime Minister of Tuvalu until August 2013, when he had been ousted in a parliamentary vote of no confidence, having lost his majority. He was absent for much of the parliamentary year that followed, tending to his sick wife in Hawaii, and reportedly resigned because of the need to remain at his wife's side.[1]

Nanumea is a two-seat constituency. The other seat, held by Finance Minister Maatia Toafa, is not affected by the by-election. Telavi sat on the Opposition benches, and prior to the by-election Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga's government had a two-thirds majority in Parliament. The outcome of the by-election therefore did not affect the government's majority.[1]

Result

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Satini Tulaga Manuella was the successful candidate. The former USP Senior Accountant and president of the Tuvalu National Private Sector Organization (TNPSO) supports the government of Enele Sopoaga.[2] There were only two candidates, and the results were as follows:[2]

Nanumea by-election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Satini Manuella   436 65.2 n/a
Nonpartisan Hilia Vavae 233 34.8 n/a
Majority 203 30.3 n/a
Government gain from Opposition Swing n/a

2010 election

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In the 2010 general election, the results had been as follows.[3]

Nanumea 2010 general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Maatia Toafa   531 37.7
Independent Willy Telavi   443 31.5
Independent Amuia Tapeva 434 30.8
Willy Telavi hold Swing
Maatia Toafa hold Swing

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Tuvalu to hold by-election after MP resignation". Radio Australia. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  2. ^ a b "New MP elected in Tuvalu". FENEUI NEWS/PACNEWS. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  3. ^ "Tuvalu election results" Archived 2011-06-28 at the Wayback Machine, Tuvalu News, 16 September 2010