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Apisai Ielemia
Prime Minister of Tuvalu
Incumbent
Assumed office  14 August 2006
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor General	Filoimea Telito
Preceded by	Maatia Toafa
Constituency	Vaitupu
Born	August 19, 1955
Spouse(s)	Sikinala Ielemia[1]

Apisai Ielemia (born August 19, 1955) is a Tuvaluan politician. He has been Prime Minister of Tuvalu since 2006.

Background

Ielemia was elected to serve in the Parliament of Tuvalu by the constituency of Vaitupu on a non-partisan basis: his lack of alignment is not unusual in the politics of Tuvalu, since political parties have not emerged in the country.

Prime Minister of Tuvalu

In general elections held on August 3, 2006 prime minister Maatia Toafa's government was defeated and opposition MP Ielemia was approved by the new parliament on August 14 to become the new prime minister. He also became foreign minister.

Ielemia has continued Tuvalu's pursuit of close relations with Republic of China, and in December 2007 visited that country, when various bilateral issued were addressed.

Prospects for stability

In a country which had in recent years seen frequent changes of government through the use of the Parliamentary no confidence device, Ielemia's government, in office since 2006, seemed at the beginning of 2009 to offer somewhat of a rarity: the prospect of a government of Tuvalu running somewhat of its full course. Prior to Ielemia's appointment as Prime Minister of Tuvalu, the average length of Prime Ministerial terms of office had been cosiderably shorter; this experience served as an indicator of the relative stability of his government, and by extension, the underlying parliamentary system which supported it.

Government Members

As of September 2006, the government of Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia consisted of the following members [1]

• Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources: Hon. Tavau Teii - represents Niutao
• House Speaker: Hon. Sir Kamuta Latasi - represents Funafuti
• Minister of Home Affairs: Hon. Willy Telavi - represents Nanumea

Tuvalu

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Tuvalu

Queen Elizabeth II Governor-General Filoimea Telito Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia Parliament Elections and parties Foreign relations

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• Minister of Finance & Economic Planning: Hon. Lotoala Metia - represents Nukufetau
• Minister of Public Works, Water & Energy: Hon. Kausea Natano - represents Funafuti
• Minister of Communications, Transportation & Tourism: Hon. Taukelina Finikaso - represents Vaitupu
• Minister of Education, Youth & Sports: Hon Falesa Pitoi - represents Nanumaga
• Minister of Health: Hon. Iakoba Italeli - represents Nui
• Chairman of the Caucus: Hon. Sir Tomu Sione - represents Niutao

See also

• Politics of Tuvalu

• Foreign relations of Tuvalu#Relations with Cuba

References

External links

• "A threat to our human rights: Tuvalu's perspective on climate change", Apisai Ielemia, UN Chronicle, June 2007
• Tuvalu News: Article regarding appointment of Ielemia's government in 2006
• East West Center: Article regarding Ielemia's Taiwan visit, December 2007