New proposal for a Democratic Monarchy in Tonga [1]
Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 09:51. Updated on Monday, May 12, 2014 - 23:52.
A proposal for a new model of government for Tonga, a Democratic Monarchy form of government was released on April 18 by Afeaki, from his home at Tofoa in Tongatapu, and will be presented today to the Kingdom of Tonga National Reform Committee for Political Change.
Afeaki, who is a matapule of the king, from Ha'apai, said his proposal for a Democratic Monarchy is aimed at having a political system where the King is still the monarch of Tonga, while the people exercise the power.
In a nutshell, under Afeaki's Democratic Monarchy form of government, a substantial power of the king would be transferred to the parliament, and all members of parliament, including the noble's representatives, would be elected by the people. The king however, would continue to appoint his Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers to be confirmed by parliament. The king would continue to chair the Privy Council.
But under Afeaki's proposed model of government Cabinet Ministers would not be members of parliament.
Present at the launching by Afeaki of his model of government was his brother Viliami Pousima Afeaki and his son Pousima Alexander Afeaki. Afeaki said that they had submitted a copy of their proposal to King Taufa...ahau Tupou IV last week before the king's departure for New Zealand.
Following the launching at Tofoa, Afeaki said Viliami, and his sons Pousima and Barron Afeaki would go to Pangai, Ha...apai on April 19 to formally present a copy of their proposal to Prince Tu'ipelehake and the Kingdom of Tonga National Reform Committee for Political Change.
Washington model
Afeaki said that in developing the proposal he chose the Washington model of Government as used in the United States of America as the basis of a system of Government for Tonga, enabling Tonga to keep its monarchy while having a modern form of Government. However, he stressed that before any political reform was introduced a referendum was essential to ascertain that the Tongan people want a political reform to take place.
Afeaki a chartered accountant, has been working on his proposed model of government for three months and he was certain that his Democratic Monarchy form of government would, "retain our Tongan heritage and ensure that if changes do happen it will incorporate the social and cultural essence of what makes us Tongan".