The motion was reportedly initiated due to MPs' concerns over certain aspects of the budget, in particular the prospect that the government may no longer fully fund patients' medical costs abroad. With a new Prime Minister due to be chosen on 24 December, Toafa announced that he would not be standing for the job, but that he hoped his deputy and Foreign Affairs and Environment Minister, Enele Sopoaga, would be chosen by Parliament in his place. Historical note In the history of independent Tuvalu, Bikenibeu Paeniu has been the only other Prime Minister apart from Maatia Toafa to have served a second period in that office. Later career Toafa was appointed to the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2014 New Year Honours list, "for public and community service". See also Politics of Tuvalu Second Toafa Ministry |- References External links Islands Business: Prime Minister Maatia Seeks Another Term Living people 1954 births Prime Ministers of Tuvalu Deputy Prime Ministers of Tuvalu Foreign Ministers of Tuvalu Members of the Parliament of Tuvalu Officers of the Order of the British Empire People from Nanumea Finance Ministers of Tuvalu