Samuelu Penitala Teo | |
---|---|
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 |
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.
His spouse is Miliaga Samuelu Teo. [6]
He 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]