Prime Minister of Tuvalu

Prime Minister of Tuvalu
Ulu o te Malo o Tuvalu (Tuvaluan)
Coat of Arms of Tuvalu
State Flag of Tuvalu
Incumbent Feleti Teo since 26 February 2024
Style	The Right Honourable
Appointer	Elected by the members of the parliament
Term length	While commanding the confidence of the majority of members of parliament. No term limits are imposed on the office.
Inaugural holder	Toaripi Lauti
Formation	1 October 1978
Salary	AU$ 40,840/US$ 26,660 annually[1]

Politics of Tuvalu
Government Constitution of Tuvalu Law Human rights
Legislature Parliament of Tuvalu Speaker Samuelu Teo Natano Kofe Laafai Taupo Tehulu Melei Laoi Teo Boreham Kiritome Sopoaga Talama Paeniu Sualiki Taape Meisake
Executive Monarch Charles III Governor-General Sir Tofiga Vaevalu Falani Prime Minister Feleti Teo (I) Cabinet
Judiciary Judicial Committee of the Privy Council President Robert Reed High Court of Tuvalu Chief Justice Charles Sweeney
Elections 1977 general elections 1981 general elections 1985 general elections 1989 general elections September 1993 general elections November 1993 general elections 1998 general elections 2002 general elections 2006 general elections 2010 general elections 2015 general elections 2019 general elections 2024 general elections
Foreign relations Visa policy
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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.

Part V, section 62 of the Constitution of Tuvalu describes the vesting of the executive authority:

(1) The executive authority of Tuvalu is primarily vested in the Sovereign, and the Governor-General as the representative of the Sovereign.

(2) The executive authority so vested in the Sovereign shall be exercised in accordance with section 53 (performance of functions by the Head of State).^[2]

Following the parliamentary vote, the governor-general of Tuvalu is responsible for swearing in as the prime minister the person who commands the confidence of a majority of members of parliament.

Part V of the Constitution establishes the executive authority of Tuvalu and confirms that while the Prime Minister is the head of government, executive power is exercised by ministerial government, with Part V, section 67 to 69 establishing the role of the cabinet.^[2]

The office of prime minister was established when Tuvalu gained independence in 1978. However, the post is sometimes considered a continuation of the earlier office of chief minister, created in 1975. If the prime minister dies, as has happened on one occasion, the deputy prime minister becomes acting prime minister until a new one is elected by parliament. The prime minister can lose his office by resigning, being defeated in a motion of no confidence by parliament, or losing his seat in a parliamentary election.

Part V, Section 63 of the Constitution of Tuvalu establishes the office of Prime Minister. Under section 64, the Prime Minister is elected by the members of parliament, with sections 64 to 67 describing what happens if the office of the Prime Minister becomes vacant, the removal from office of an incapacitated Prime Minister, the process for the suspension of the Prime Minister, and the effect of removal or suspension of the Prime Minister.^[2]

Until the Second Toafa Ministry in 2010, the prime minister also had the role of foreign minister. Enele Sopoaga was the foreign minister in the short-lived Second Toafa Ministry. In subsequent ministries, foreign affairs was another minister's responsibility in the cabinet.

Several former prime ministers have been appointed the governor-general of Tuvalu.

Feleti Teo was appointed as prime minister on 26 February 2024, after he was elected unopposed by the parliament.^[3]