[19] On 1 August 2013, Governor-General of Tuvalu Sir Iakoba Italeli made an unprecedented use of his reserve powers in removing prime minister Willy Telavi from office and appointed opposition leader Enele Sopoaga as interim prime minister.
[42][43] Isaia Italeli, minister for works and natural resources, died suddenly on 19 July 2011, while attending a regional meeting in Apia, Samoa.
[46] In August, his widow, Pelenike Isaia, was elected to his seat in parliament in a by-election in the constituency of Nui, thereby saving the government's parliamentary majority.
[44] On 21 December 2012, finance minister Lotoala Metia died in hospital, of unspecified causes.
[48] The government succeeded in postponing it until 28 June, whereupon it was won by the opposition candidate Elisala Pita, with two-thirds of the vote.
The speaker, Sir Kamuta Latasi, rejected the opposition's attempt to table a motion of no confidence, on the grounds that there was now a vacant seat in parliament.
Latasi adjourned parliament, and ruled that it would not reconvene until a by-election had been held - thus prolonging Telavi's minority government once more.
[51] However, a day later on 1 August 2013, the governor-general and head of state, Sir Iakoba Italeli, sent out a proclamation removing Telavi from office as prime minister, and appointing opposition leader Enele Sopoaga as interim prime minister.
Opposition spokesman Taukelina Finikaso praised Italeli for having "uph[e]ld the constitution", since Telavi had lacked a parliamentary majority with which to govern.
[56] His cabinet consisted of the following members:[1] Ielemia continued as prime minister until the 2010 Tuvaluan general election.
The members of the cabinet were:[61] Koloa Talake became prime minister on 14 December 2001, after his predecessor Faimalaga Luka had been ousted by parliament in a motion of no confidence.
[64] Following the 1998 general election, Bikenibeu Paeniu was re-elected prime minister on 8 April 1998;[65] He appointed his cabinet on the same day.
Bikenibeu Paeniu was elected as prime minister for the second time following the resignation of Kamuta Latasi as the result of a vote of no confidence on 24 December 1996.
[67] As a consequence, the governor-general, Sir Toaripi Lauti, dissolved the parliament on 22 September and a further election took place on 25 November 1993.
On 21 September, Tomasi Puapua was re-elected as prime minister; he subsequently appointed a five-member cabinet.
[71][72] Henry Naisali resigned his seat to take up the position of Secretary General of the South Pacific Forum in September 1988.
[73] The members of the cabinet were:[77][78] Following the result of the 1974 Ellice Islands self-determination referendum, the Tuvaluan Order 1975, which took effect on 1 October 1975, recognised Tuvalu as a separate British dependency with its own government.