List of heads of state of Tuvalu

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Politics of Tuvalu

Government

* Constitution of Tuvalu

* Law
* Human rights

Legislature

* Parliament of Tuvalu

* Speaker Samuelu Teo

* Natano
* Kofe
* Laafai
* Taupo
* Tehulu
* Melei
* Laoi
* Teo
* Boreham
* Kiritome
* Sopoaga
* Talama
* Paeniu
* Sualiki
* Taape
* Meisake

Executive

* Monarch

* Charles III

* Governor-General

* Sir Tofiga Vaevalu Falani

* Prime Minister

* Feleti Teo (I)

* * *

* Cabinet

Judiciary

* Judicial Committee of the Privy Council

* President Robert Reed

* High Court of Tuvalu

* Chief Justice Charles Sweeney

Elections

* 1977 general elections
* 1981 general elections
* 1985 general elections
* 1989 general elections
* September 1993 general elections
* November 1993 general elections
* 1998 general elections
* 2002 general elections
* 2006 general elections
* 2010 general elections
* 2015 general elections
* 2019 general elections
* 2024 general elections

Foreign relations

* Visa policy

Tuvalu portal

* Other countries

* v
* t
* e

This is a list of the heads of state of Tuvalu, from the independence of Tuvalu in 1978 to the present day.

The Monarchy of Tuvalu exists in a framework of a parliamentary representative democracy. As a constitutional monarch, the King of Tuvalu, Charles III, acts entirely on the advice of his government ministers in Tuvalu.[1] The Head of State is recognised in section 50 of the Constitution of Tuvalu, as a symbol of the unity and identity of Tuvalu. The powers of the head of state are set out in section 52 (1) of the Constitution.[2]

Part IV of the Constitution confirms the head of state of Tuvalu is King Charles III as the sovereign of Tuvalu and provides for the rules for succession to the Crown. As set out in section 54 of the Constitution, the Queen’s representative in Tuvalu by a Governor-General. Section 58 of the Constitution requires the governor-general to perform the functions of the head of state when the sovereign is outside Tuvalu or otherwise incapacitated. The Governor-General of Tuvalu is appointed by the monarch upon the advice of the Prime Minister of Tuvalu.

The position is largely ceremonial. However the holder has constitutional responsibilities and reserve powers in relation to the ordering parliament to convene and the appointment and dismissal of the prime minister.[2] In 2003 the Chief Justice of the High Court of Tuvalu delivered directions as to how the Governor-General should proceed to take any action he considers to be appropriate under Section 116(1) of the Constitution, acting in his own deliberate judgment, rather than as advised by the cabinet.[3] That is, the Governor-General could consider whether it was appropriate to exercise his reserve powers in calling parliament.

## Monarch (1978–present)[edit]

The monarch of the United Kingdom has been the Sovereign of Tuvalu since Tuvaluan independence in 1978. The line of succession to the Tuvaluan throne is the same as that of the thrones of other Commonwealth realms.

№  | Monarch
(Birth–Death) | Portrait  | Reign  | Royal House  | Prime Minister

|
|
|
|
|

Reign start  | Reign end
1  |

Queen Elizabeth II
(1926–2022)

|  | 1 October 1978  | 8 September 2022  | Windsor | Lauti,
Puapua,
Paeniu,
Latasi,
Paeniu,
Ionatana,
Tuilimu (Interim),
Luka,
Talake,
Sopoanga,
Toafa,
Ielemia,
Toafa,
Telavi,
Sopoaga,
Natano
2  |

King Charles III
(1948–)

|  | 8 September 2022  | Incumbent | Windsor | Natano,
Teo

### Governor-General[edit]

The Governor-General is the representative of the Monarch in Tuvalu and exercises most of the powers of the Monarch. The Governor-General is appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the Monarch. The Governor-General is appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Tuvalu without the involvement of the British government. In the event of a vacancy the Speaker serves as Officer Administering the Government.

Following is a list of people who have served as Governor-General of Tuvalu since independence in 1978.[4]

Denotes Acting Governors-General

No. | Portrait  | Name
(Birth–Death) | Term of office  | Monarch
(Reign)

|
|
|
|

Took office  | Left office  | Time in office
1  |  | Sir Fiatau Penitala Teo
(1911–1998) | 1 October
1978  | 1 March
1986  | 7 years, 151 days  |
Elizabeth II

(1978–2022)
2  |  | Sir Tupua Leupena
(1922–1996) | 1 March
1986  | 1 October
1990  | 4 years, 214 days
3  |  | Sir Toaripi Lauti
(1928–2014) | 1 October
1990  | 1 December
1993  | 3 years, 61 days
4  |  | Sir Tomu Sione
(1941–2016) | 1 December
1993  | 21 June
1994  | 202 days
5  |  | Sir Tulaga Manuella
(b. 1936) | 21 June
1994  | 26 June
1998  | 4 years, 5 days
6  |  | Sir Tomasi Puapua
(b. 1938) | 26 June
1998  | 9 September
2003  | 15 years, 75 days
7  |  | Faimalaga Luka
(1940–2005) | 9 September
2003  | 15 April
2005  | 1 year, 218 days
8  |  | Sir Filoimea Telito
(1945–2011) | 15 April
2005  | 19 March
2010  | 4 years, 338 days
–  |  | Sir Kamuta Latasi
(b. 1936)
Acting Governor-General | 19 March
2010  | 16 April
2010  | 28 days
9  |  | Sir Iakoba Italeli
(b. ?) | 16 April
2010  | 22 August
2019  | 9 years, 128 days
–  |  | Teniku Talesi Honolulu
(b. ?)
Acting Governor-General | 22 August
2019  | January
2021[citation needed] | –
–  |  | Samuelu Teo
(b. ?)
Acting Governor-General | January
2021[citation needed] | 28 September
2021  | –
10  |  | Tofiga Vaevalu Falani
(b. ?) | 29 September
2021[citation needed] | Incumbent | 2 years, 256 days  |
Charles III

(2022–present)

## Standards[edit]

* Governor-General's Standard

## External links[edit]

* Rulers.org – Tuvalu

## References[edit]

1. ^ "The Queen's Role in Tuvalu". Official website of the British Monarchy. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
2. ^ a b "The Constitution of Tuvalu". PACLII. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
3. ^ "Amasone v Attorney General [2003] TVHC 4; Case No 24 of 2003 (6 August 2003)". PACLII. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
4. ^ "Tuvalu: Governors-General: 1978-2022". Archontology.org. 2 June 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2022.

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