Apisai Ielemia

Prime Minister of Tuvalu (1955-2018)

Apisai Ielemia (19 August 1955 – 19 November 2018)[1] was a Tuvaluan politician. He was the tenth Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 2006 to 2010, and was returned as a member of parliament in 2010. He was re-elected to parliament in 2015.

Apisai Ielemia
Prime Minister of Tuvalu
In office
14 August 2006 – 29 September 2010
MonarchElizabeth II
Governor GeneralFiloimea Telito
Kamuta Latasi
Iakoba Italeli
Preceded byMaatia Toafa
Succeeded byMaatia Toafa
Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Environment, Trade, Labour and Tourism
In office
24 December 2010 – 2 August 2013
Prime MinisterWilly Telavi
Preceded byEnele Sopoaga (Foreign Affairs, Environment and Labour)
Succeeded byTaukelina Finikaso (Minister of Environment, Foreign Affairs, Labour, and Trade)
Personal details
Born(1955-08-19)19 August 1955
Died19 November 2018(2018-11-19) (aged 63)
Funafuti, Tuvalu
Spouse(s)Sikinala Ielemia

On 5 October 2016, the High Court of Tuvalu declared that Ielemia’s parliamentary seat was vacant as he was not qualified to be a member of parliament, following his conviction on 6 May 2016 in the Magistrate’s Court of charges of abuse of office during the final year of his term as Prime Minister.[2][3] Ielemia said he believed himself to be a member of parliament.[4] Ielemia challenged the decision in 2017.[5][6]

References change

  1. "Former Tuvalu prime minister laid to rest". Radio New Zealand. 22 November 2018.
  2. Pareti, Samisoni. "Tuvalu demonstrate against top judge, former PM seeks re-election in Vaitupu seat". PINA/ISLANDS BUSINESS/PACNEWS. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  3. "Judge questions handling of case by PM and his deputy". Island Business. October 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  4. "Tuvalu MP claims nepotism after exclusion". Radio New Zealand. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  5. "Legitimacy of Tuvalu by-election questioned". Radio New Zealand. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  6. "Tuvalu PM calls media reports blatant lies". Radio New Zealand. 24 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2017.