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Tongan Parliament votes in a by-election.
With 14 seats in total, Pohiva’s Demo-
Pohiva crats were in a position to govern alone.
That would have happened anywhere
else where the majority rules law applies.
However, Tonga is different because its
storms selection as Tonga needs to move on with constitution says that the House would
have to elect the PM who will then be
confirmed once the King has given his
consent.
back positive developments. He said the Prime Tupou VI dissolved parliament and dis-
Tongans went to the polls after King
Minister needs to be able to lead with a
vision that will take Tonga forward.
missed Pohiva, the first commoner to be
Pohiva was nominated by Tongatapu 10
representative Dr Pohiva Tuionetoa while elected as prime minister.
Although the King never explained
Sovaleni was nominated by Vava’u 15 why he intervened in the island nation’s
representative Samiu Vaipulu. politics a year before the next scheduled
Also elected on December 18 were the general election, media reports said there
Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Tonga were claims the government had acted
Legislative Assembly. unconstitutionally by signing international
Making a return as Speaker is Lord agreements without the King’s approval.
By Iliesa Tora Fakafanua, who was Speaker from 2012 However, voters showed overwhelming
VETERAN politician and long-time de- to 2014. support for Pohiva and the Democratic
mocracy fighter Samiuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva He was unanimously elected by both Party in November’s snap election.
has his job cut out for him after he was Peoples’ Representatives and Nobles Reps Party politics was not a component of
re-elected as Tonga’s Prime Minister with in the 26-seat parliament. Tonga’s political reform introduced in
a 14-12 vote in the Tongan Parliament in Vava’u’s Noble Tu’ilakepa was elected 2010. The decision-making in parliament
Nuku’alofa on December 18. Deputy Speaker. is structured for consensus by individual
Pohiva was re-elected as Tonga’s PM “I am honoured and thank the House for representatives and not through political
over his former deputy and the only other giving me their faith to do the job,” Lord party affiliation. A member of parliament
nominee for the top post, Siaosi Sovaleni. Fakavanua said after his election. is elected as a representative of his or her
Following a day-long election process, He had opted out of politics at the end of constituency, not as a representative of a
acting Speaker of the House Lord Tangi the 2014 parliamentary season to resume political party.
announced the secret ballot results, after university studies for three years. Under the reform, the executive author-
his briefing with His Majesty King Tupou Lord Tu’ilakepa said he will do his best ity of the kingdom, which used to be with
VI. in the role. the King in the Privy Council and in cabi-
“I thank all of you for the important “I congratulate the new Prime Minister net, was transferred to the Prime Minister
job that you have been able to carry out and call for all of us to work for Tonga and his cabinet ministers.
today,” Lord Tangi told the members of together,” he added. This means that the people elected into
parliament. Lord Tu’ilakepa was one of five nobles parliament must take full responsibility of
“You have made your selection and we nominated for the post but the other four running the country – and they no longer
will now have to go on with that.” all opted out – showing that the Nobles need to ask someone else to solve their
In his acceptance speech Pohiva, whose were united in the House by not allowing problems.
term was cut short unexpectedly by King anyone else to stand opposition to the
Tupou VI last August when the King dis- names initially nominated. What now?
solved parliament said he was honoured Pohiva will now form his cabinet and
to have been re-elected. Election process advise His Majesty.
“I am more than grateful to you all. I The results of the Tongan general elec- The make-up of his lineup will be in-
stand by my words that we need to now tion last month threw almost all predic- teresting, especially now with two women
move on and stand together for Tonga. tions out the window as Pohiva led his MPs in Parliament.
I thank all who have supported me, the Democratic Party to winning 14 of the 17 Pohiva will have a few weeks on his
people of Kolomotu’a from Tongatapu One People’s Reps seats available. hand to form his government and work
and all those who supported us during the Pohiva, and his entire cabinet were all on his plans before the new 2017-2021
election.” re-elected in Tonga’s general election, parliamentary season starts.
In accepting defeat Sovaleni said he was which was ordered by the King after he What many will now hope to see is if
honoured to have been nominated for PM dissolved parliament and dismissed the Pohiva will extend the olive branch and
and wished Pohiva well. Pohiva government. call in any of the independent MPs who
“I hope that we will have good leader- A near 75 per cent turnout also saw voted against him into his cabinet lineup.
ship and that we can all work together for voters return two women MPs for the first That would be a good gesture, proof of
Tonga,” he said. time in the country’s short democratic his- his claim that he wants the best team to
Earlier in the day Sovaleni had called tory, with Losaline Ma’asi joining Akosita work for Tonga moving forward.
on all parliamentarians to make the right Lavulavu, who held on to the seat she won r iliesatora2012@gmail.com

18 Islands Business, , January 2018