Toki Talagi

Toke Tufukia Talagi is the current president of Niue. He was elected on June 19, 2008, defeating the standing president Young Vivian. Talagi has been, at various times, deputy prime minister, minister of Finance, and minister of Education. Elected to the national Assembly in 2002, he obtained the same number of votes as an opponent in the 2005 election, and retained his seat only thanks to a favourable random draw to designate a winner. He was re-elected easily in 2008. There are no political parties in Niue; Talagi is therefore an independent. Talagi is also president of the Niue Rugby Union.