Name Wilkie Rasmussen Role Politician | Party Democratic Party | |
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Ljubljana hosts ACP-EU meeting: impression & opening
Wilkie Olaf Patua Rasmussen (born 21 March 1958) is a Cook Islands politician and former Cabinet Minister. He is leader of the Cook Islands Democratic Party, and represents the constituency of Penrhyn.
Rasmussen was born in Omoka on the island of Penrhyn. He attended the University of Auckland, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and Bachelor of Laws. After practicising as a Barrister and Solicitor, he became Secretary to the Cook Islands Cabinet, then High Commissioner to New Zealand from 2000 to 2002.
He first entered Parliament in a by-election in 2002, standing for the Cook Islands Party. Early in his political career he challenged the eligibility of two Government MPs to sit, on the grounds that they worked as paid consultants and were therefore public servants. The challenge was ultimately unsuccessful.
After being narrowly re-elected in the 2004 election, Rasmussen was brought into the coalition Cabinet of Jim Marurai, replacing Piho Rua as Minister of Culture and Tourism. He was later elevated to Foreign Minister. He switched his allegiance to the Democratic Party shortly before the 2006 elections, and as a result was elected unopposed. He was elected deputy leader of the Democratic Party in August, 2007, replacing Tepure Tapaitau and currently holds the portfolios of Finance & Economic Management, Attourney-General, and the Pearl Authority.
Rasmussen was Minister of Foreign Affairs & Immigration, Marine Resources, and Tourism until 28 July 2009 when he was sacked by Jim Marurai for "disloyalty". He was subsequently expelled from Cook Islands Democratic Party on 25 August 2009. He was reappointed to Cabinet in the December 2009 reshuffle following the sacking of Terepai Maoate and resignation of Democratic party cabinet ministers. A Democratic Party conference in June 2010 restored his membership and appointed him deputy leader.
Rasmussen was co-president of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly until December 2009, replaced by Charles Milupi (Zambia) in December 2009.
He was re-elected at the 2010 election. He became Leader of the Opposition in February 2012 after Democratic party leader Robert Wigmore was granted medical leave from Parliament. Following Wigmore's death in April 2012 he became acting leader of the Democratic Party. His position as party leader was confirmed in August 2012.