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Results for Tonga Constitution

Sunday 3 March 2024

Nomuka, Tonga
The Tonga Constitution does not prohibit the King from expressing and withdrawing his "consent and confidence"... it's a free speech privilege of everyone. Instead of rejecting or disagreeing with the letter and taking the issue to Court, the Prime Minister and Cabinet should consider whether holding a ministerial position without the King's "consent and confidence" is constitutional. - Seni Penitani.
Saturday 2 March 2024

Newcastle, Australia
Rev. Dr Palu (Letters, 11 Feb.) makes a crucial mistake in asserting that the King has executive authority over government, as the King does not. This is a strange, and volatile situation. Contrary to what Rev Dr Palu implies, it would be better for Tonga if the King was to cooperate with the PM, not the other way around. - Max K.
1 comment
Monday 19 February 2024

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku returned to the Tonga Legislative Assembly this morning after taking leave from the House for over three months, but made no mention of his Cabinet's rift with King Tupou VI. In a short opening speech the PM thanked the House for the long time he had been away. He did not have anything to say about the King's withdrawal of his confidence and consent to the appointment of two Cabinet Ministers.
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Sunday 11 February 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The PM and his Cabinet should remember the uniqueness of our kind of democracy. Ours is not like the British democracy where the King has no executive power. Ours is a democracy under Constitutional monarchy. The King has the ultimate executive authority over the Government. He can dissolve Parliament if it deems necessary as he has done with 'Akilisi's government back then. Our Constitution, and especially Clause 51 retains the King's authority over Cabinet by giving him authority to endorse ...the appointments of Cabinet ministers. So, it will be good for the current administration not to resist the authority of the King in this matter. - Rev Dr Ma'afu Palu
Wednesday 7 February 2024
PM

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Following Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku’s decision to retain his Foreign Minister this week, after King Tupou VI in Privy Council withdrew his consent to her appointment, some unanswered questions have been raised about how much power the Monarchy actually possesses over the Kingdom’s foreign policy decisions.
1 comment
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Thursday 22 October 2020

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga Law Society is deeply concerned at the amendment to the Constitution of Tonga passed unanimously by Parliament on 15 October 2020. In bypassing the consultation process, Parliament has denied the Tongan people the most fundamental right to be heard on a matter of elemental importance to every Tongan subject. - Sione Tu'itavake Fonua, President, Tonga Law Society
Tuesday 22 September 2020

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A proposed Government Bill to amend Clause 89 of the Tongan Constitution, with an additional Clause 89A introducing "traditional culture", sparked off some vociferous exchanges in the Tongan Parliament yesterday, 21 September, but wording of the proposed amendment has not been released. Clause 89 gives judges the power to direct the form of indictments to control the procedure of the lower courts, and to make rules of procedure. However, the proposed change was not read out in the House and the Bill was not made available to the media. 
From the House by Pesi Fonua.
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Wednesday 10 June 2020

Nuku'alofa, Tonga

A new Tonga National Security of Information Office that is currently being set up by the Prime Minister's Office, was questioned during debate on the $4.48 million budget allocation of the PMO for 2021 that was passed by the Committee of the Whole House in parliament yesterday, Tuesday 9 June. From the House by Pesi Fonua.
Saturday 2 March 2019

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Six Bills, tabled into parliament by Cabinet and labelled “urgent” by Tonga's Prime Minister, stirred fierce debate on Wednesday and Thursday. The House rejected a motion for public consultation over the proposed changes to the Constitution being debated. From the House By Pesi Fonua
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Wednesday 30 August 2017

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga government's signing of the PACER Plus Trade Agreement is not valid as it was not presented to the King for approval, the Acting Attorney General, ‘Aminiasi Kefu said today, amid a growing row over government's apparent failure to follow proper protocols.
Monday 30 November 2015
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
This is perhaps the most embarrassing and disappointing news about a Tongan government in the most recent times. This PM was well known for preaching against the previous Kings and their system of government, for not allowing justice and the voice of the people to be heard by the Government. - Rev Dr Ma'afu'otu'itonga Palu
Thursday 29 October 2015
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Mr Prime Minister...You forget that the Constitution demands absolute integrity from our law makers. ...when you passively and aggressively requested the House to release your Minister from the impeachment process, you violated justice; you trashed the Constitution and travestied justice. – Tamanomuka.
Thursday 6 November 2014
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tongans had a day-off on Monday, November 3 as the Kingdom observed a national holiday celebrating its 139 year-old Constitution - the second oldest in the Southern Hemisphere.
Thursday 1 August 2013
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's parliament could not decide which version of the Tongan Constitution has precedence - the Tongan version or the English version. From the House, by Pesi Fonua.
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Monday 6 May 2013
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
On World Press Freedom Day May 3, Tonga's Attorney General Neil Adsett told journalists in Nuku'alofa that while Tonga's Constitution guarantees Freedom of Speech and Press Freedom, there remains in the Constitution two other conflicting sub-clauses, inserted by an amendment in 2003, which are partly void and should be changed so that it is not misleading.
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Wednesday 5 September 2012
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Difficulties over the Tongan and English interpretations of the Tongan Constitution had the House in an uproar last week. There was a clash of strong opinions when it was discovered that the Tongan Clause 8 stopped short of spelling out the public's right to petition the passing or the repealing of enactments, as stated in the English version. From the House, by Pesi Fonua.
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Wednesday 6 October 2010
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Speech of HM King George Tupou V on the closing of the Tonga Legislative Assembly session in October 2010: This year has been one of those with the highest workloads for Government and the Legislative Assembly in order to complete the reforms to our Constitution and the Legislations regarding the powers and responsibilities of the Privy Council, the Cabinet, the Legislative Assembly and the Judiciary. But the most important and historically most significant duty of the Government and Legislative Assembly this year had been to facilitate and complete the devolution of My executive authority as the King of Tonga, to the People.
Friday 24 October 2003
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Disregarding strong public protests and the opposition of People'’s Representatives, the Tongan Government pushed through a bill for Constitutional change on October 16. The changes, which have yet to be signed into law by the king, will allow government to control freedom of speech. The 16 members who voted in favour of the controversial Bill were: Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata, James Cecil Cocker, William Clive Edwards, Dr Masasso T. Paunga, Dr Viliami Ta'u Tangi, Fielakepa, Siosiua Tupou 'Utoikamanu, 'Aisea Havea Taumoepeau, Paula Sunia Bloomfield, Tuita, Malupo, 'Akau'ola, Fohe, Nuku, Havea Tu'iha'angana, and Tu'i'afitu.
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Saturday 30 September 2000

Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
Hon. Veikune, the Speaker of the Tongan Legislative Assembly, first entered Parliament in 1975 as one of two Noble’s representatives for Vava‘u. During his 22 years in the House, Hon. Veikune has served as Chairman of the Whole House Committee, and last year was appointed by the King as the new Speaker. Recently he has taken part in a regional seminar on Parliamentary democracy, and here comments on the stability of the Tongan parliamentary system, as seen from the nobility’s viewpoint. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 3, September 2000.
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Saturday 4 July 1998

Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
At 80, HM King Taufa‘ahau Tupou IV, the King of Tonga, means different things to different people. If the King’s words are his people’s command, then their wishes are his obligation—an agreement that was instilled by tradition and culture, and which was later put into writing in the Constitution of 1875. Editor's Comment by Pesi Fonua.
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