Bikenibeu Paeniu, PC was born on 10 May 1956 and is a politician from Tuvalu.
12 Facts About Bikenibeu Paeniu
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Bikenibeu Paeniu represented the constituency of Nukulaelae in the Parliament of Tuvalu.
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Bikenibeu Paeniu has served twice as the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, and now serving as Tuvaluan ambassador to Taiwan since June 2022.
4.
Bikenibeu Paeniu formed a five-member Cabinet on 16 October 1989, in which he held the role as foreign minister.
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Bikenibeu Paeniu successfully led moves to revert the flag to a previously used design which included the British Union Jack.
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Bikenibeu Paeniu was re-elected prime minister on 8 April 1998.
7.
Bikenibeu Paeniu remained as prime minister until he resigned following the vote on a motion of no confidence on 27 April 1999 and Ionatana Ionatana was elected as prime minister.
8.
Bikenibeu Paeniu sat as a Member of Parliament, representing the constituency of Nukulaelae island, until 2006.
9.
Bikenibeu Paeniu lost his seat in Parliament in the 2006 general election.
10.
Bikenibeu Paeniu faced challenge not only from independent Namoliki Sualiki, but from his own brother and nephew, Iefata and Luke, who stood against him in his constituency.
11.
Bikenibeu Paeniu received 65 votes, but Sualiki was elected with 109.
12.
Bikenibeu Paeniu is an alumnus of the University of the South Pacific in Fiji, where he resides as of 2016.