First Secretary of State (Tanaau)
| First Secretary of State | |
|---|---|
Incumbent Vacant | |
| Government of Tanaau | |
| Style | The Right Honourable |
| Type | Minister of the Crown |
| Status | Secretary of State |
| Member of | Cabinet |
| Reports to | Prime Minister |
| Seat | Frosea |
| Nominator | Prime Minister |
| Appointer | Monarch |
| Term length | At His Majesty's Pleasure |
| Formation | 17 November 2023 |
| Unofficial names | First Secretary |
The First Secretary of State, sometimes known simply as the First Secretary, is an office sometimes held by a minister of the crown in the Government of Tanaau. The office indicates seniority over all the other secretaries of state. The office is not always use, and is sometimes interchangeable with the office of deputy prime minister.
The office is currently vacant.
History
The office of first secretary was established on 17 November 2023 after the ratification of the constitution.
Responsibilities
The office, officially, does not carry any additional responsibilities. The responcibilies of the office is dependent on the needs of the prime minister of the day. However, the appointment to the office usually benefits the prime minister as it allows a senior minister to chair Cabinet committees and it sends a status signal to the office holder.
Like the deputy prime minister, the first secretary has no automatic right of succession to the office of prime minister. However, the first secretary can stand in for the prime minister as and where needed.