List of heads of state of Tuvalu

This is a list of the heads of state of Tuvalu, from the independence of Tuvalu in 1978 to the present day.

Tuvalu
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politics and government of
Tuvalu

The Monarchy of Tuvalu exists in a framework of a parliamentary representative democracy. As a constitutional monarch, the Queen of Tuvalu, Elizabeth II, acts entirely on the advice of her government ministers in Tuvalu.[1] The Head of State is recognised in section 50 of the Constitution of Tuvalu, as a symbol of the unity and identity of Tuvalu. The powers of the head of state are set out in section 52 (1) of the Constitution.[2][3]

Part IV of the Constitution confirms the head of state of Tuvalu is Queen Elizabeth II as the sovereign of Tuvalu and provides for the rules for succession to the Crown. As set out in section 54 of the Constitution, the Queen’s representative in Tuvalu by a Governor-General. Section 58 of the Constitution requires the governor-general to perform the functions of the head of state when the sovereign is outside Tuvalu or otherwise incapacitated. The Governor-General of Tuvalu is appointed by the monarch upon the advice of the Prime Minister of Tuvalu.

The position is largely ceremonial. However the holder has constitutional responsibilities and reserve powers in relation to the ordering parliament to convene and the appointment and dismissal of the prime minister.[2][3] In 2003 the Chief Justice of the High Court of Tuvalu delivered directions as to how the Governor-General should proceed to take any action he considers to be appropriate under Section 116(1) of the Constitution, acting in his own deliberate judgment, rather than as advised by the cabinet.[4] That is, the Governor-General could consider whether it was appropriate to exercise his reserve powers in calling parliament.

Monarch (1978–present)

Queen Elizabeth II is also the Monarch of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The succession to her majesty's title as Monarch of Tuvalu is the same as the succession to the British throne.

№ Monarch
(B as Birth–Death)		 Portrait Reign Royal House Prime Minister
Reign start Reign end
1 Queen Elizabeth II
(1926–)		 1 Octobter 1978 Incumbent Windsor Lauti
Puapua
Paeniu
Latasi
Paeniu
Ionatana
Tuilimu (Interim)
Luka
Talake
Sopoanga
Toafa
Ielemia
Toafa
Telavi
Sopoaga

Governor-General

The Governor-General is the representative of the Monarch in Tuvalu and exercises most of the powers of the Monarch. The Governor-General is appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the Monarch. The effect of the Statute of Westminster 1931, is that the Governor-General is appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Tuvalu without the involvement of the British government. In the event of a vacancy the Speaker serves as Officer Administering the Government.

Status
  Denotes Speaker acting as Officer Administering the Government
№ Governor-General
(Birth–Death)		 Portrait Tenure Monarch Prime Minister
Took office Left office
1 Sir Fiatau Penitala Teo
(1911–1998)		 1 October 1978 1 March 1986 Elizabeth II Lauti
Puapua
2 Sir Tupua Leupena
(1922–1996)		 1 March 1986 1 October 1990 Elizabeth II Puapua
Paeniu
3 Sir Toaripi Lauti
(1928–2014)		 1 October 1990 1 December 1993 Elizabeth II Paeniu
4 Sir Tomu Sione
(1941–2016)		 1 December 1993 21 June 1994 Elizabeth II Paeniu
Latasi
5 Sir Tulaga Manuella
(1936–)		 21 June 1994 26 June 1998 Elizabeth II Latasi
Paeniu
6 Sir Tomasi Puapua
(1938–)		 26 June 1998 9 September 2003 Elizabeth II Paeniu
Ionatana
Tuilimu (Interim)
Luka
Talake
Sopoanga
7 Faimalaga Luka
(1940–2005)		 9 September 2003 15 April 2005 Elizabeth II Sopoanga
Toafa
8 Sir Filoimea Telito
(1945–2011)		 15 April 2005 19 March 2010 Elizabeth II Toafa
Ielemia
– Sir Kamuta Latasi
(1936–)		 19 March 2010 16 April 2010 Elizabeth II Ielemia
9 Sir Iakoba Italeli
(–)		 16 April 2010 Incumbent Elizabeth II Ielemia
Toafa
Telavi
Sopoaga

Standards
  • Governor-General's Standard

Living former heads of state

There are two living former Tuvaluian Heads of State:

Image Name Term/Reign Office Date of birth
Sir Tulaga Manuella 1994–1998 Governor-General of Tuvalu (1936-08-26) 26 August 1936
Sir Tomasi Puapua 1998–2003 Governor-General of Tuvalu (1938-09-10) 10 September 1938
Sir Kamuta Latasi 2010 Officer Administrating the Government (1936-09-04) 4 September 1936

References
  1. "The Queen's Role in Tuvalu". Official website of the British Monarchy. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  2. "The Constitution of Tuvalu". PACLII. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  3. "The Constitution of Tuvalu". Tuvalu Islands. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  4. "Amasone v Attorney General [2003] TVHC 4; Case No 24 of 2003 (6 August 2003)". PACLII. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
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