Results for Vote of No Confidence

The Tongan parliament was in an uproar this afternoon as members who supported a Motion for a Vote of No Confidence in the Prime Minister were given the floor to counter the written response of the Prime Minister that had been read to the parliament over the previous five days of sitting. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

"What is the reason for the vote of no confidence?". 'Otuanga'ofa Democratic Party 'ODP: "We have a constitutional right to put forward this motion, whether the motion is strong enough or relevant, that's a different issue altogether." Now that is what I call 'a direct abuse of the constitution' – Senolita Swan.

The Tonga government's 2012-13 budget was finally released by the Ministry of Finance on July 5, five days after the beginning of the new financial year on July 1. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

While Parliament has allowed Tonga's Prime Minister 14 days to respond to a Motion for a Vote of No Confidence in him signed by 10 People's Representatives; the People's Representatives 'Akilisi Pohiva, Sitiveni Halapua and Noble's Representative Lord Fakafanua argued that there was no need for mandatory public consultation to be included in the motion. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

The letter submitted to Parliament by the Democratic Party asking for a ‘vote of no confidence’ in the performance of the PM contains the following points: 1. That the PM reshuffled his ministers once, twice or thrice; 2. That he was not chosen by the people; and 3. That he was unreliable. What? Is that it? - Senolita Swan

Tonga's Parliament decided this morning that it was not an urgent matter for a Motion for a Vote of No Confidence in the Prime Minister to be put on the agenda of the House today.

Eighteen months ago Tonga introduced its first majority-elected parliament in a move to establish a more democratic system of government. The democratization process has not been smooth and now, at the start of their second parliamentary session, it appears that our elected members are having a very difficult time trying to get the new system to work. . . . this raises another question: Is the motion for a Vote of No Confidence therefore, a Vote of No Confidence in themselves? Editor's Comment by Pesi Fonua.