|
A by-election was held in the Nukufetau constituency in Tuvalu on 28 June 2013.〔("Tuvalu’s former PM Sopoaga has another shot" ), ''Islands Business'', 10 June 2013〕 It followed the death of MP and Minister for Finance Lotoala Metia, who died suddenly on 21 December 2012. The by-election ultimately played a key part in an unprecedented constitutional crisis, culminating in a change of government. ==Context== The by-election was seen as crucial for the future of Prime Minister Willy Telavi's government, which was reduced by Metia's death to a parity of seven seats apiece with the Opposition in Parliament. The government had previously survived a by-election in August 2011 caused by the death of Minister for Works Isaia Italeli.〔("Political future of Tuvalu’s PM awaits decision of by-election in Nukufetau" ), ''Islands Business'', 10 January 2013〕 Nukufetau is a two-seat constituency. In the 2010 general election, it had returned Enele Sopoaga and Lotoala Metia, respectively with 40.46% and 32.95% of the vote, ahead of one other candidate (incumbent Elisala Pita).〔(Tuvalu Election Results, 2010 general election ), Tuvalu News〕 For the by-election, of course, only one seat would be provided for, Sopoaga (the Leader of the Opposition) retaining the other. By early February 2013, no date had been set for the Nukufetau by-election, prompting the opposition to accuse the government of unnecessary (and potentially unconstitutional) delay. Tensions were reported on Nukufetau between supporters of the government and supporters of the opposition, with fears of violence, accentuating calls that the election should be decided swiftly. The opposition was campaigning actively for the seat, before the by-election had even been called.〔("Tuvalu by-election divides Nukufetau, even more" ), PacNews, 5 February 2013〕 Nukufetau's council of elders (''Falekaupule'') reportedly backed the opposition, as they had been doing for a while; in 2011, the elders had unsuccessfully asked Metia to "reconsider his allegiance" to Telavi, and to support Sopoaga instead.〔("No dates set yet for Tuvalu by-election" ), ''Islands Business'', March 2013〕 By mid-March, the government had still not set a date for the by-election, and Opposition MP Taukelina Finikaso accused the Telavi government of having shelved a water supply project on Nukufetau, so as to punish the atoll for its elders' lack of political support.〔 At the start of April, Finikaso lodged a claim in the High Court of Tuvalu, seeking an injunction to compel the government to proceed with the by-election. He argued that the government was afraid of losing its majority through the by-election, Parliament not having sat since Metia's death had rendered the seat vacant in December.〔("Tuvalu MP takes court action to force by-election" ), Radio New Zealand International, 2 April 2013〕 Prime Minister Telavi responded that he wished to see the tensions on Nukufetau resolved before a by-election was held. He pointed to "a number of officials" having been dismissed by the local council, identifying this as a source of tension and division, and called for reconciliation before the election.〔("Tuvalu PM wants reconciliation on Nukufetau before by-election" ), Radio New Zealand International, 3 April 2013〕 He stated that the dismissal of officials, which he described as "wrongful", led him to doubt whether the election would be "free and fair"; hence the delay, he explained.〔("Tuvalu’s PM says divisions must be sorted before by-election proceeds" ), Radio New Zealand International, 3 April 2013〕 In May, complications emerged in relation to the court hearing due to rule on Finikaso's claim. Tuvalu's Chief Justice Sir Gordon Ward was a resident of New Zealand; to reach Tuvalu, he had to transit via Fiji. (The only flights to Funafuti International Airport are from Fiji.) He had formerly served as President of Fiji's Court of Appeal, but had resigned following the 2006 Fijian coup d'état; he had then criticised Fiji's military government. The Fiji government refused him transit, stating that Tuvaluan authorities had not "submitted the proper paperwork in time". Ward then offered to hear the case in New Zealand, which Finikaso accepted.〔("Travel ban delays Tuvalu hearing on by-election" ), Radio Australia, 13 May 2013〕 The Tuvalu High Court ruling was issued in Auckland on 24 May,〔(【引用サイトリンク】title= Attorney General, In re Application under Section 131(1) of the Constitution of Tuvalu () TVHC 15; Civil Case 1.2013 (24 May 2013) )〕 ordering that the by-election must be held within twenty-six days.〔("Tuvalu Supreme Court rules by-election must be held" ), Radio Australia, 24 May 2013〕 The government then announced the election would be held on 28 June 2013.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Nukufetau by-election, 2013」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|