Willy Telavi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 11th Prime Minister of Tuvalu | |
| In office 24 December 2010 – 1 August 2013 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor‑General | Iakoba Italeli |
| Preceded by | Maatia Toafa |
| Succeeded by | Enele Sopoaga |
| Minister for Home Affairs | |
| In office 16 August 2006 – 23 September 2011 | |
| Prime Minister | Apisai Ielemia Maatia Toafa |
| Preceded by | Aunese Simati |
| Succeeded by | Pelenike Isaia |
| Member of the Tuvaluan Parliament for Nanumea | |
| In office 3 August 2006 – 25 August 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Sio Patiale |
| Succeeded by | Satini Manuella |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 January 1954 Nanumea, Gilbert and Ellice Islands (now Tuvalu) |
| Political party | Independent |
| Alma mater | University of the South Pacific Charles Darwin University |
Willy Telavi (born 28 January 1954) is a Tuvaluan politician who was Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 2010 to 2013.
Telavi was first elected to parliament in 2006 and was re-elected in 2010.[1] He became prime minister on 24 December 2010 and the Telavi Ministry retained government until August 2013. The refusal of prime minister Telavi to recall the Parliament of Tuvalu after the 2013 Nukufetau by-election resulted in a constitutional crisis when he adopted the position that, under the Constitution of Tuvalu, he was only required to convene parliament once a year, and was thus under no obligation to summon it until December 2013.[2] The opposition then requested the Governor-General of Tuvalu, Sir Iakoba Italeli, to intervene against the Telavi's decision.[3] On 3 July, Governor-General Italeli exercised his reserve powers in ordering parliament to convene, against the prime minister Telavi's wishes, on 30 July.[4] On 1 August 2013 Governor-General Italeli again exercised his reserve powers and dismissed Telavi as Prime Minister of Tuvalu and appointed the opposition leader Enele Sopoaga as Tuvalu's caretaker prime minister.[5] A day later, on 2 August 2013, Telavi's government was successfully brought down through a vote of no confidence in parliament.[6] He resigned from parliament in August 2014.[1][7] He was absent for much of the parliamentary year tending to his sick wife in Hawaii, and he resigned in order to remain at his wife's side.[7]
- ^ a b "Former Tuvalu PM quits parliament". Radio New Zealand International. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
- ^ "Parliament needs one yearly meeting only says defiant Tuvalu PM". Radio New Zealand International. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
- ^ Coutts, Geraldine (2 July 2013). "Tuvalu opposition demands parliament be allowed to sit after weekend by-election". Radio Australia. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
- ^ Matau, Robert (3 July 2013). "Tuvalu's parliament convenes July 30". Islands Business. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^ Matua, Robert (1 August 2013). "GG appoints Sopoaga as Tuvalu's caretaker PM". Islands Business. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
- ^ "Tuvalu opposition votes out government". Radio New Zealand International. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Tuvalu to hold by-election after MP resignation". Radio Australia. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.