Taom Tanukale

Taom Tanukale
Minister for Health
In office
24 December 2010 – 30 July 2013
Prime MinisterWilly Telavi
Preceded byFauoa Maani
Succeeded byFauoa Maani
Member of the Tuvaluan Parliament
for Nui
In office
16 September 2010 – 30 July 2013
Preceded byIakoba Italeli
Succeeded byLeneuoti Matusi
In office
6 May 2005 – 3 August 2006
Preceded byAmasone Kilei
Succeeded byIakoba Italeli
Personal details
Political partyIndependent

Taom Tanukale is a Tuvaluan politician.

He began his career in national politics when he was elected to Parliament in a by-election in May 2005, as MP for Nui, following the death of his predecessor, Amasone Kilei. He joined Prime Minister Maatia Toafa's parliamentary majority, and was appointed acting Minister for Health and Education, "while the incumbent went overseas for long-term medical treatment".[1][2]

He failed to retain his seat in the August 2006 general election,[3] but regained it in the September 2010 general election.[4] In December of that year, Prime Minister Maatia Toafa was ousted in a motion of no confidence. Tanukale supported Toafa's opponent, Willy Telavi, who became Prime Minister and appointed him as Minister for Health.[5] On 30 July 2013, as the government appeared to have lost its parliamentary majority and was about to face a motion of no confidence, Tanukale unexpectedly resigned from Parliament (and thus also from the government) altogether.[6] The following day, the reason for his resignation became apparent. The Speaker, Kamuta Latasi, rejected the Opposition's attempt to table a motion of no confidence, on the grounds that there was now a vacant seat in Parliament. Latasi adjourned Parliament, and ruled that it would not reconvene until a by-election had been held - thus prolonging Telavi's minority government.[7] This tactic proved fruitless as Governor General Sir Iakoba Italeli intervened on 1 August 2013 and removed Telavi from office, so as to enable Parliament to function. The following day, Parliament (minus Tanukale) formally brought down the government through a vote of no confidence.[8]

Taom Tanukale was a candidate in the 2013 Nui by-election, which was held on 10 September. Tanukale came third in the poll with 160 votes. Leneuoti Matusi was declared the winner, polling 297 of the 778 registered voters.[9] Tanukale was a candidate in the 2015 Tuvaluan general election and received 53 votes, but was not elected to parliament.[10]

  1. ^ "Tuvalu leader says Patiale resignation in nation's interest". Radio New Zealand International. 8 June 2005. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  2. ^ "Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006". The Contemporary Pacific. 2007. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  3. ^ "Election results for Nanumaga and Nui". Tuvalu News. 3 August 2006. Archived from the original on 1 March 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  4. ^ "Tuvalu Election Results". Tuvalu News. 16 September 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  5. ^ "New Tuvalu government sworn in". Radio New Zealand International. 29 December 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  6. ^ "Tuvalu govt bombshells". Islands Business. 30 July 2013. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  7. ^ "Tuvalu in constitutional crisis, says opposition". Radio New Zealand International. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  8. ^ "Tuvalu opposition votes out government". Radio New Zealand International. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  9. ^ "New MP elected in Tuvalu". Islands Business from Radio Tuvalu. 11 September 2013. Archived from the original on 5 April 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  10. ^ "Tuvalu National Election 2015 Results (Nui)". Fenui News. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.