The Sopoanga government first lost its majority in May 2003, following the results of the 2003 Nanumea by-election and the 2003 Niutao by-election. As Sopoanga did not call parliament afterward, opposition leader Amasone Kilei filed a case on 20 June 2003 with the High Court of Tuvalu seeking orders regarding the appointment of a speaker and the calling of parliament. The governor-general had already issued a notice on 19 June ordering the election of a speaker, which was won by opposition MP Faimalaga Luka. On 6 August 2003, the Chief Justice of the High Court issued his decision on the case: he declined to force the prime minister's resignation, and deferred the decision to call parliament to the governor general's reserve powers as defined under Section 116(1) of the Constitution of Tuvalu.