Bikenibeu Paeniu

Bikenibeu Paeniu, PC (born 10 May 1956, Bikenibeu, Tarawa, in the former Gilbert Islands) is a politician from Tuvalu. He represented the constituency of Nukulaelae in the Parliament of Tuvalu. He has served twice as the Prime Minister of Tuvalu.

The Right Honourable

Bikenibeu Paeniu
3rd Prime Minister of Tuvalu
In office
24 December 1996 – 27 April 1999
MonarchElizabeth II
Governor-GeneralTulaga Manuella
Tomasi Puapua
Preceded byKamuta Latasi
Succeeded byIonatana Ionatana
In office
16 October 1989 – 10 December 1993
MonarchElizabeth II
Governor-GeneralTupua Leupena
Toaripi Lauti
Tomu Sione
Preceded byTomasi Puapua
Succeeded byKamuta Latasi
Personal details
Born (1956-05-10) 10 May 1956
Bikenibeu, Gilbert Islands

Political career

Paeniu made his entrance on the political scene in 1989, when he won a seat in the Parliament of Tuvalu following a by-election.

First period of office as Prime Minister

Following the general election on 26 March 1989, he challenged incumbent Prime Minister Tomasi Puapua in the general election and won, becoming the youngest ever Prime Minister of Tuvalu at age 33. Paeniu formed a five-member Cabinet on 16 October 1989.[1]

The next general election was held on 25 November 1993. In the subsequent parliament the members were evenly split in their support of Bikenibeu Paeniu and the former Prime Minister Tomasi Puapua.[2]

As a consequence, the Governor-General dissolved the parliament on 22 September and a further election took place on 25 November 1993. The subsequent parliament elected Kamuta Latasi as prime minister on 10 December 1993, with a 7:5 majority over the group a members of parliament headed by Bikenibeu Paeniu.[2]

Second period of office as Prime Minister

Kamuta Latasi was the prime minister until 24 December 1996. As the result the vote on a motion of no confidence Kamuta Latasi resigned and Bikenibeu Paeniu was elected as prime minister for the second time.

In his second premiership term, an issue which arose was the controversy surrounding the design of the national flag of Tuvalu. Paeniu successfully led moves to revert the flag to a previously used design which included the British Union Jack. Paeniu is less overtly republican in inclination than Latasi.

On 18 December 1997 the parliament was dissolved and the general election was held on 26 March 1998. Bikenibeu Paeniu was re-elected prime minister on 8 April 1998.[3][4][5] 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.

Subsequent career

Paeniu sat as a Member of Parliament, representing the constituency of Nukulaelae island, until 2006. In addition, he served as Minister of Finance and Economic Planning in the cabinets of Koloa Talake,[6] Saufatu Sopoanga and Maatia Toafa.[7]

Paeniu lost his seat in Parliament in the 2006 general election. He faced challenge not only from independent Namoliki Sualiki, but also from his own brother and nephew, Iefata and Luke, who stood against him in his constituency. Bikenibeu Paeniu received 65 votes (ahead of Lukes's 64 and Iefata's 21), but Sualiki was elected with 109.[8][9]

Paeniu is an alumnus in University of the South Pacific in Fiji, where he resides as of 2016.[10]

See also
Preceded by
Tomasi Puapua		 Prime Minister of Tuvalu
1989-1993		 Succeeded by
Kamuta Latasi
Preceded by
Kamuta Latasi		 Prime Minister of Tuvalu
1996-1999		 Succeeded by
Ionatana Ionatana

References
  1. "Palamene o Tuvalu (Parliament of Tuvalu)". Inter-Parliamentary Union. 1989. Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  2. "Palamene o Tuvalu (Parliament of Tuvalu)". Inter-Parliamentary Union. 1993. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  3. "Tuvalu Elects 12 Members of Parliament". East-West Center Center for Pacific Islands Studies/University of Hawai‘i at Manoa / PACNEWS. 27 March 1998. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  4. "Paeniu Re-Elected Tuvalu Prime Minister". Pacific Islands Development Program/East-West Center Center for Pacific Islands Studies/University of Hawai‘i at Manoa /PACNEWS/tuvaluislands.com. 8 April 1998. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  5. "Palamene o Tuvalu (Parliament of Tuvalu)". Inter-Parliamentary Union. 1998. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  6. Levine, Mark (1 December 2002). "Tuvalu Toodle-oo". Outside. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  7. Taafaki, Tauaasa (2007). "Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006, Tuvalu". The Contemporary Pacific. 19 (1): 276–286. doi:10.1353/cp.2007.0036. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  8. Hassall, Graham (2006). "The Tuvalu General Election 2006". Democracy and Elections project, Governance Program, University of the South Pacific. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  9. "Election Results Bring Changes". Tuvalu News. August 3, 2006.
  10. [University of the South Pacific Profile
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