Deputy Prime Minister Saufatu Sopoanga of Tuvalu
A month later, Saufatu Sopoanga was dethroned as prime minister by a motion of no condence.
Sopoanga had previously expressed his disapproval of the Taiwan representative in Tuvalu associating himself publicly with leaders and members of the opposition and had accused the representative of meddling in Tuvalu politics.
Some key observers in Tuvalu suspected that a great deal of conspiracy within Sopoanga's own party, especially among the more senior ministers and others, transpired while Sopoanga was out campaigning for the by-election.
The Rt Hon Saufatu Sopoanga is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu.
Sopoanga is a former Prime Minister and foreign minister of Tuvalu.
Sopoanga was elected Prime Minister of Tuvalu by MPs on 2 August 2002 after the general election in which previous prime minister Koloa Talake lost his seat.
Tuvalu Prime Minister Saufatu Sopoanga is welcomed by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in Tokyo.
Sopoanga said his government does not want to see people leaving Tuvalu, saying they need to protect their homeland as well as preserve their sovereignty, culture and tradition.
Sopoanga was on a seven-day trip to Japan to discuss bilateral ties with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
BackgroundToafa was deputy Prime Minister when on August 27, 2004, he became Acting Prime Minister when Prime Minister Saufatu SopoangaSaufatu Sopoanga Saufatu Sopoanga is a former Prime Minister and foreign minister of Tuvalu.
Prime Minister of TuvaluHe was confirmed as Prime Minister on October 11, 2004, when SopoangaSaufatu Sopoanga Saufatu Sopoanga is a former Prime Minister and foreign minister of Tuvalu.
Secretary to Government Saufatu Sopoanga said the change in plans results from the ''devastating fire incident at our national secondary school over the weekend.
Sopoanga said Prime Minister Ionatana will be represented at the meeting, which begins Thursday, by Deputy Prime Minister Lagitupu Tuilimu.
Saufatu Sopoanga is a former Prime Minister and foreign minister of Tuvalu.
Prime Minister Saufatu Sopoanga was first elected to power in the July 2002 general election.
He was confirmed as Prime Minister on October 11, 2004, when Sopoanga was reelected to Parliament and Parliament reconvened to elect a new Prime Minister.
Tuvalu: Saufatu Sopoanga is elected prime minister by Parliament, defeating Amasone Kilei by 8 votes to 7.
In the July 2002 general elections, in which Telake failed to win a seat, Saufatu Sopoanga was elected prime minister.