Laatsi is
p. 11 · Read in the full issue
Politics Round-Up
Tuvalu
new PM
The 12-member parliament of Tuvalu on December 10 elected Kamuta Laatasi as the new prime minister. Laatasi defeated Bikenibeu Paeniu by seven votes to five.
Paeniu has been prime minister since 1989.
Opposition leader Dr Tomasi Puapua, who has twice challenged Paeniu for leadership, did not contest the prime ministership. Sources said in return for not contesting Puapua was likely to be made speaker of the parliament.
Laatasi was a backbencher in the former Paeniu government and a former private secretary to Tuvalu first prime minister, Sir Toaripi Lauti, and later the country’s first high commissioner to Fiji.
More recently he has been general manager of BP Oil in Tuvalu.
In addition to prime ministership Laatasi will hold the foreign affairs and economic planning portfolios.
Laatasi’s selection follows two national elections in three months. The first was in September but a new poll was called after parliament remained deadlocked on choosing the prime minister. A second election was held on November 25.