Apisai Ielemia Maatia Toafa Parliamentary elections were held in Tuvalu on 16 September 2010.

The remaining five incumbents, including Deputy Prime Minister Tavau Teii, did not retain their seats.

However, on 24 December 2010, after a motion of no confidence, carried by eight votes to seven,[5] Maatia Toafa was replaced by Willy Telavi as Prime Minister of Tuvalu.

[6] Willy Telavi retained a bare majority through the term of his ministry until by-elections were won by candidates that supported the opposition.

[15][16] Sopoaga stood for election in the Nukufetau constituency, and is reportedly considered a "national hero" for his diplomatic work at the Copenhagen Summit on climate change in December 2009.

[2][16][17] The announcement that ten sitting MPs had been re-elected was made by Speaker Kamuta Latasi the following day.

[3][19] Speaker Latasi originally announced that all fifteen MPs would meet the following week to form a new government.

[20] Incumbent Apisai Ielemia, who became caretaker prime minister after the election, hoped to form a new government, though he ultimately did not have the support in the new parliament.

[2][6] Minister of Works Isaia Italeli died suddenly in July 2011,[23] which led to the 2011 Nui by-election in the following month.

[2] The by-election was described as "pivotal", as Italeli's death had deprived Prime Minister Willy Telavi of his government's one seat majority in Parliament.

[27] Tuvalu's opposition then requested the Governor-General Iakoba Italeli to intervene against the Prime Minister's decision.

[30][31] The Governor-General also ordered that parliament sit on Friday 2 August to allow a vote of no-confidence in Telavi and his government.