17 Facts About Willy Telavi

Willy Telavi was born on 28 January 1954 and is a Tuvaluan politician who served as Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 2010 to 2013.

Willy Telavi became prime minister on 24 December 2010 and the Telavi Ministry retained government until August 2013.

The refusal of prime minister Willy Telavi to recall the Parliament of Tuvalu after the 2013 Nukufetau by-election resulted in a constitutional crisis when he adopted the position that, under the Constitution of Tuvalu, he was only required to convene parliament once a year, and was thus under no obligation to summon it until December 2013.

Willy Telavi was absent for much of the parliamentary year tending to his sick wife in Hawaii, and he resigned in order to remain at his wife's side.

Willy Telavi earned a degree in legal studies from the University of the South Pacific in 1999 and a master's degree in international management from Northern Territory University in 2000.

Willy Telavi was appointed to his current position in May 1993, he has served more than 16 years in various positions with the Tuvalu police force.

Willy Telavi stood for the Parliament of Tuvalu in 2006 and was elected to serve the constituency of Nanumea.

Willy Telavi was appointed minister for home affairs in the Ielemia administration.

Willy Telavi retained his seat in parliament in the 2010 general election, and was appointed minister for home affairs in the cabinet of the new prime minister, Maatia Toafa.

Willy Telavi delayed calling a by-election after the death of Lotoala Metia, an MP from Nukufetau, until ordered by the High Court to call the by-election.

On 28 June 2013, the Willy Telavi government lost a crucial by-election in Nukufetau, which gave the opposition a majority of one in parliament.

Prime Minister Willy Telavi responded that, under the Constitution, he was only required to convene parliament once a year, and was thus under no obligation to summon it until December 2013.

Willy Telavi was not the first government member to vacate or temporarily leave office: Lotoala Metia had died, education minister Falesa Pitoi had become ill and had been outside the country since December 2012.

Willy Telavi was replaced by opposition leader Enele Sopoaga, who becomes caretaker prime minister.

Opposition member Taukelina Finikaso alleged that the prime minister had attempted to remove Sir Iakoba Italeli as governor-general of Tuvalu, prompting Willy Telavi's removal described as 'upholding' the Tuvaluan constitution.

Willy Telavi's government was successfully removed from office a day later by Parliament, on 2 August 2013.

Willy Telavi defended his actions in not calling the by-election or recalling parliament, and placed the responsibility for the constitution crisis with the governor general, who he says intervened only five days after the by-election, "Though he got the power to do that, we are a small country where we can consult each other without resorting to this kind of exercising of powers".