Saufatu Sopoanga
|
The Right Honourable Saufatu Sopoanga OBE |
|
|---|---|
| Prime Minister of Tuvalu | |
|
In office 2 August 2002 – 27 August 2004 |
|
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor General |
Tomasi Puapua Faimalaga Luka |
| Preceded by | Koloa Talake |
| Succeeded by | Maatia Toafa |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
22 February 1952 Nukufetau, Tuvalu |
Saufatu Sopoanga, OBE (born 22 February 1952) is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu. Sopoanga was the eighth Prime Minister of Tuvalu and a foreign minister of Tuvalu. He is the elder brother of Enele Sopoaga, who was appointed as Prime Minister of Tuvalu in 2013.
There are no political parties in Tuvalu. During his term as prime minister Sapoanga had a shifting alliance of MPs who supported him, and there was also an opposition group against him. Both Sapoanga's group and the opposition group were plagued by defections; a series of by-elections also created uncertainty as to which side would emerge with a parliamentary majority. The survival of his government has been described as resulting from his dexterous handling of the distribution of ministerial and other appointments.
On 26 August 2004, while one of the 15 members of parliament was sick in New Zealand and another had defected from Sapoanga's group, the opposition finally Sapoanga to resign in a no confidence vote, 8-6.
He was born on Nukufetau Atoll.
Sopoanga was a civil servant and from 1997 to 1999 he was Acting Secretary to the government. In the Queen's Birthday Honours, 13 June 1998, he was awarded the Officer in The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his public service and for services to the community. In 2000 he was again acting as Secretary to the government of prime minister Ionatana Ionatana.
He was elected as a member of the Parliament of Tuvalu for the constituency of Nukufetau, Under prime minister Koloa Talake, he served as the minister for finance and economic planning and minister for tourism, trade and commerce.
Sopoanga was elected Prime Minister of Tuvalu by the Parliament of Tuvalu on 2 August 2002 after the general election. He also became the foreign minister.
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