During his term as Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Saufatu Sopoanga experienced a shifting alliance of MPs who supported him, and there was also an opposition group against him.
[1] Amasone Kilei, the leader of the opposition, wrote to Sir Tomasi Puapua, the governor-general, on 10 May 2003 advising that he commanded the support of a majority of the members of parliament and they were ready to form a government.
[3] On 9 September Sopoanga arranged to appointed opposition MP Faimalaga Luka as governor general to follow Sir Tomasi Puapua.
The winner of the October by-election, Elisala Pita, joined the government's benches, enabling it to survive into 2004.
[6] The survival of the Sopoanga government has been described as resulting from his dexterous handling of the distribution of ministerial and other appointments.