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O'Love Jacobsen

Tauveve O’Love Jacobsen is a Niuean politician. Currently a member of the Niue Assembly (national Parliament)^{[1] [2]}, she has been a long-standing leading figure in the informal parliamentary Opposition to Young Vivian's government. She has also been Minister of Education, Health, Environment, Training and Development.^[3] Additionally, Jacobsen is a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association^[4], and Patroness of the Niuean Volleyball Association.^[5]

Following the 1999 general election, she was a candidate for the post of Premier (head of government), who is selected by the national Assembly. She lost to Sani Lakatani, of the Niue People's Party, by six votes to fourteen.^[6]

Following the 2005 general election, Jacobsen was Young Vivian's only opponent contending for the position of Premier. She was defeated by three votes to seventeen.^{[7] [8]} Vivian thanked her for competing against him:

“That the selection was contested, thanks to Ekepule [member of the Assembly] O’love Jacobsen, confirms our determination under the Westminster system of government to adhere and uphold one of the fundamental principles of democracy.”^[9]

In February 2008, Jacobsen stated that landowners had been bullied into authorising the building of a hotel and golf course on their land, a project supported by the government and funded by Chinese investors. Premier Young Vivian rejected the allegation.^[10]

In the lead-up to the 2008 general election, which saw her successfully retain her seat in the Assembly^[11], Jacobsen was critical of the fact that several members of the Assembly would be re-elected unopposed. She accused Vivian of discouraging people from taking part in the election as Opposition candidates, and argued that a democracy requires voters being able to choose between several candidates in each constituency.

“If the principle of democracy is going to be upheld, then it is very important that people do need to go to the polls and not have them unopposed and become duly elected.”^[12]

Vivian rejected Jacobsen's criticism, and argued in return that candidates were chosen within the villages, in traditional ways. With such a practice, he said, "there is no conflict, there’s peace and togetherness.”^[13] A government news publication stated with thinly veiled criticism that Jacobsen "saw herself as a self-appointed backbench champion of the masses".^[14]

Following the election, Jacobsen supported Toki Talagi's candidacy to prime ministership, against Vivian.^[15]

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