Saufatu Sopoanga | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Sopoanga in 2003 | |
| 8thPrime Minister of Tuvalu | |
| In office 2 August 2002 – 27 August 2004 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governors General | |
| Preceded by | Koloa Talake |
| Succeeded by | Maatia Toafa |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Tuvalu | |
| In office 11 October 2004 – 14 August 2006 | |
| Prime Minister | Maatia Toafa |
| Preceded by | Maatia Toafa |
| Succeeded by | Tavau Teii |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 14 December 2001 – 2 August 2002 | |
| Prime Minister | Koloa Talake |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1952-02-22)22 February 1952 Nukufetau,Gilbert and Ellice Islands |
| Died | 15 December 2020(2020-12-15) (aged 68) Tuvalu |
| Spouse | Filifau Sopoanga |
| Children | 4 |
| Relatives | Enele Sopoaga (brother) |
| Alma mater | |
Saufatu Sopoanga (22 February 1952 – 15 December 2020)[1] was a Tuvaluan politician who served as the eighthprime minister of Tuvalu from 2 August 2002 to 27 August 2004.[2] He drew international attention for his speeches warning about the effects of therising sea level on Tuvalu and other low-lying island countries.
He later served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2004 to 2006. His younger brotherEnele Sopoaga served as Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 2013 to 2019.
Sopoanga was born onNukufetau Atoll on 22 February 1952. He received a diploma in development administration from South DevonTechnical College,Torquay in 1978 and apostgraduate diploma from theUniversity of Manchester in 1992. In 1993, he received aMaster's degree from theUniversity of Liverpool.[3]
Sopoanga began working in the civil service of theEllice Islands in 1973, and was apermanent secretary for different ministries between 1975 and 1995.[3] During his time at the Ministry of Natural Resources, he facilitated visits by foreign geologists after Tuvalu became a member of theSouth Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission in 1984.[4][5] From 1996 until his retirement in October 2000, he was a state secretary, the highest rank in the civil service.[3]
The Electoral Provisions (Parliament) Act of Tuvalu was amended in May 2000 to increase the membership of parliament from 12 to 15 MPs.[6] Sopoanga was elected as a member of theParliament of Tuvalu for the constituency ofNukufetau, in a special election in November 2000, (together withAmasone Kilei and Namoto Kelisiano) and they attended their first parliamentary session on 7 December 2000.[7] He became a Special Ministerial Adviser in the Ministry of Works, Communications & Transport to the government of Prime MinisterIonatana Ionatana.[8] Under prime ministerKoloa Talake, he served as the minister for finance, economic planning and industry.[9]
Sopoanga was electedPrime Minister of Tuvalu by theParliament of Tuvalu on 2 August 2002 after thegeneral election.[10] He also held the foreign affairs and labour portfolios.[3]
After being elected Prime Minister, Sopoanga announced his intention to create a plan to improve education and healthcare in Tuvalu. He attended aUnited Nations Sustainable Development summit inJohannesburg in September 2002, where he warned that Tuvalu would be completely submerged in 50 years due toglobal warming-relatedincreases in sea level.[3] On 24 September 2003, Sopoanga delivered a speech to theUnited Nations General Assembly which outlined issues facing Tuvalu on its25th anniversary of independence, such as economic underdevelopment. He calledclimate change "a slow and insidious form of terrorism" against Tuvalu.[11]
As Tuvalu's parliament is nonpartisan, both Sapoanga's government and the opposition experienced periodic defections and uncertain by-elections.[12] Due to this instability, Sopoanga personally voiced support for making Tuvalu arepublic with adirectly-elected head of government.[3]
The Sopoanga government first lost its majority in May 2003, following the results of the2003 Nanumea by-election and the2003 Niutao by-election.[13] As Sopoanga did not call parliament afterward,opposition leader Amasone Kilei filed a case on 20 June 2003 with theHigh Court of Tuvalu seeking orders regarding the appointment of a speaker and the calling of parliament. Thegovernor-general had already issued a notice on 19 June ordering the election of a speaker,[14] which was won by opposition MPFaimalaga Luka.[15] On 6 August 2003, the Chief Justice of the High Court issued his decision on the case: he declined to force the prime minister's resignation, and deferred the decision to call parliament to the governor general'sreserve powers as defined under Section 116(1) of theConstitution of Tuvalu.[14]
Sopoanga finally recalled parliament to meet in September.[16] On 9 September, he nominated the new SpeakerFaimalaga Luka as the nextgovernor general, triggering the2003 Nukufetau by-election in October.Elisala Pita won the by-election and joined the government's benches, restoring its majority.[17]
On 25 August 2004, Sopoanga resigned as prime minister after ano confidence motion carried in parliament, 8–6. One of the government members was sick inNew Zealand, and the SpeakerOtinielu Tausi voted with the opposition due to a disagreement over Sopoanga's financial policies.[18][19]
After resigning as prime minister, Sopoanga resigned his seat in parliament to delay the election of a new prime minister, as the Constitution required all fifteen MPs to vote. The2004 Nukufetau by-election was held on 7 October, and Sopoanga regained his seat.[20] However,Maatia Toafa was elected prime minister on 11 October 2004, 8–7.[21] Sopoanga then became deputy prime minister, also holding the Works, Communications & Transport portfolio.[22][23] At the2006 Tuvaluan general election, Sopoanga lost his seat in Parliament.[24][25]
After leaving parliament, Sopoanga served as Chairman of various organizations, such as the Tuvalu National Private Sector Organization[26] and the Public Service Commission.[27] He was also the Secretary-General of the TuvaluRed Cross.[28] In 2018, he became a member of Tuvalu'sMemory of the World Committee.[29]
Sopoanga had several brothers; his younger brotherEnele was also Prime Minister from 2013 to 2019.[30][31] Sopoanga and his wife Filifau had four children.[32]
Sopoanga died on 15 December 2020 in Tuvalu. He received astate funeral on 22 December 2020.[1]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister of Finance of Tuvalu 2002-2006 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Tuvalu 2002–2004 | Succeeded by |
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