Samuelu Penitala Teo is a Tuvaluan politician. He is the son of Sir Fiatau Penitala Teo who was appointed as the first Governor General of Tuvalu (1978–1986) following independence from Great Britain.[2] Samuelu Teo himself served as the Acting Governor-General of Tuvalu from January until 28 September 2021.[3][4] He had succeeded Acting Governor-General Teniku Talesi[5] and remained in office until the Rev. Tofiga Vaevalu Falani was sworn in as the 10th Governor-General in September 2021.
Samuelu Teo | |
|---|---|
 Teo in 2022 | |
| Speaker of the Parliament of Tuvalu | |
| In office 20 September 2019 – 27 January 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Kausea Natano |
| Preceded by | Otinielu Tausi |
| Succeeded by | Iakoba Italeli |
| Acting Governor-General of Tuvalu | |
| In office January 2021 – 28 September 2021 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Kausea Natano |
| Preceded by | Teniku Talesi (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Tofiga Vaevalu Falani |
| Minister of Works, Energy and Communications (1999-2001); Minister for Natural Resources (2001-2002) | |
| In office 1999–2002 | |
| Prime Minister | Ionatana Ionatana (1999-2000);[1] Lagitupu Tuilimu (2000-2001); Faimalaga Luka (2001); and Koloa Talake (2001–2002) |
| Member of the Tuvaluan Parliament for Niutao | |
| In office 26 March 1998 – 3 August 2006 | |
| Member of the Tuvaluan Parliament for Niutao (serving with Fauoa Maani) | |
| In office 31 March 2015 – 26 January 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Vete Sakaio |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Samuelu Penitala Teo |
| Political party | Independent |
His spouse is Miliaga Samuelu Teo.[6]
Career
editHe was first elected to the Parliament of Tuvalu at the 1998 general election to represent the constituency of Niutao.[2] He served as the Minister of Works, Energy and Communications in the governments led by Ionatana Ionatana (1999-2000)[1] and Lagitupu Tuilimu (2000-2001). He was the Minister for Natural Resources in the governments led by Faimalaga Luka (2001) and Koloa Talake (2001–2002). He was re-elected in the 2002 Tuvaluan general election, then lost his seat in the 2006 Tuvaluan general election when the vote of the Tuvaluan electorate resulted in the election of 8 new members to the 15 member parliament.[7][8]
Samuelu Teo was again elected to represent Niutao in the 2015 Tuvaluan general election.[9][10][11] The 2015 election was strongly contested with 6 candidates including the two incumbent MPs (Vete Sakaio and Fauoa Maani) and three former MPs (Sir Tomu Sione, Tavau Teii and Teo).[10]
Following the 2019 Tuvaluan general election, on 19 September 2019, the members of parliament elected Kausea Natano from Funafuti as prime minister;[12][13][14] and Teo was elected as Speaker of the Parliament of Tuvalu.[15]
He was not re-elected in the 2024 Tuvaluan general election.[16][17]
His brother Feleti Penitala Teo[18][19] was elected to represent Niutao in the 2024 general election,[16] and was elected as prime minister.[20][21]
References
edit- ^ a b Johnston, Martin (30 June 2000). "Student to blame for Tuvalu fire". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ^ a b "Tuvalu Elects 12 Members of Parliament". PacificIslands Report. 27 March 1998. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
- ^ "LCT 'Moeiteava' Christened And Commissioned". Kitiona Tausi, Tuvalu Paradise – Issue No. 06/2021. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "The Presentation of Credentials to Honourable Samuelu Penitala Teo, Acting Governor-General of Tuvalu, by His Excellency Mr. KAWAKAMI Fumihiro, Ambassador of Japan to Tuvalu". Embassy of Japan in Tuvalu. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "Government Launches "Te Kete"". Kitiona Tausi, Tuvalu Paradise – Issue No. 12/2020. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "List Of Participants - PGA 43rd Annual Forum & 12th CAP-ICC" (PDF). Parliamentarians for Global Action. 5 November 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ Hassall, Graham (2006). "The Tuvalu General Election 2006". Democracy and Elections project, Governance Program, University of the South Pacific. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ^ Lansford, Tom (2015). Political Handbook of the World 2015. CQ Press.
- ^ Pua Pedro & Semi Malaki (1 April 2015). "One female candidate make it through the National General Election" (PDF). Fenui News. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ^ a b "Election looks set to return Sopoaga as Tuvalu's PM". Radio New Zealand. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
- ^ "Tuvalu National Election 2015 Results (Niutao)". Fenui News. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ^ "Tuvalu has elected a new Prime Minister - Hon. Kausea Natano". 19 September 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
- ^ Evan Wasuka & Alan Weedon (19 September 2019). "Pacific climate change champion Enele Sopoaga is no longer Tuvalu's PM — so who's next in?". Retrieved 19 September 2019.
- ^ Colin Packham & Jonathan Barrett (19 September 2019). "Tuvalu changes PM, adds to concerns over backing for Taiwan in Pacific". Retrieved 19 September 2019.
- ^ "Kausea Natano new PM of Tuvalu; Sopoaga ousted". 19 September 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
- ^ a b "Tuvalu general election: Six newcomers in parliament". Radio New Zealand. 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ Marinaccio, Jess (30 January 2024). "Tuvalu's 2024 general election: a new political landscape". PolicyDevBlog. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
- ^ Pareti, Samisoni (3 December 2014). "Tuvalu 'son' secures top WCPFC job". Island Business. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
- ^ "Rulers Index". Rulers Org. 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ^ Needham, Kirsty (26 February 2024). "Taiwan ally Tuvalu names Feleti Teo as new prime minister". Reuters. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
- ^ Agence France-Presse (26 February 2024). "Tuvalu names Feleti Teo prime minister after pro-Taiwan leader Kausea Natano ousted". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 February 2024.