Tonga looks for a new Prime Minister [1]
Friday, November 28, 2014 - 15:20. Updated on Friday, November 28, 2014 - 22:07.
Editor's Comment by Pesi Fonua.
With the General Election over, Tonga is now waiting to find out when a new Prime Minister and a new Cabinet will be put into place to lead the country during the next four years. Editor's Comment by Pesi Fonua.
Among the possible candidates for the post of a Prime Minister, is the former Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano, and the former Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu; and People's Representative 'Akilisi Pohiva.
Looking at other experienced elected members: there are Lord Ma'afu, the Minister of Land, and Environment; Lord Vaea, the Minister for Internal Affairs, and Lord Nuku an experienced Parliamentarian who is a good political debater.
The Tongan Nobles and the people voted separately yesterday and elected 13 new members of Parliament - half of the Tongan Parliament's 26 elected members.
Before lunch yesterday, the nobles reelected eight of their incumbent representatives and elected only one new member, Lord Tu'iha'angana, a former Speaker of the Tongan parliament who is the Governor of Ha'apai, to fill their nine seats.
In the 17 People's constituencies, the 12 new members came from Tongatapu (seven new), 'Eua (one new), Ha'apai (two new) and Vava'u (two new).
The new People's Representatives for Tongatapu are made up of four members who are members of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (DPFI) and three, so-called independent People's Representatives.
Political system
The introduction of the term "political parties" and "independent members" though adds some colour to the mix of the elected members of Parliament, but it is confusing if one really wants to know how the Tonga Political System works, because members are supposed to be elected to represent their constituents, and decisions were supposed to be approved by consensus.
The newly elected People's Representatives for Tongatapu consisted of four who are members of the DPFI and three independents. The party members are Mateni Tapueluelu (son in law of 'Akilisi Pohiva) and editor of the Kele'a, the mouth-piece of the DPFI. Mateni's father Semisi Tapueluelu, an incumbent member, lost his seat to represent Constituent No. 10.
Semisi was a DPFI member elected in the 2010 Parliamentary Election. However, this time around, seven incumbent DPFI members were not nominated as candidates for this election by the party administration, so going into the election there was a bad vibe among the so-called party. Interesting though, that none of these incumbent members were re-elected.
The Tongatapu voters re-elected three other incumbent PDFI members, 'Akilisi Pohiva, Semisi Sika and 'Aisake Eke who is Tonga's Minister of Finance the third to hold that position in the former government.
Vava'u voters also re-elected, Hon. Samiu Vaipulu, the former Deputy Prime Minister,and Hon. Fe'ao Vakata, the People's Representative for Niuatoputapu and Niuafo'ou, who was also the Minister for Public Enterprises.
Prime Minister
The next step in the process is for elected members, both Nobles' and People's Representatives to elect a Prime Minister from among themselves, then the Prime Minister will select his Cabinet. The elected Prime Minister may also bring in a maximum of four appointed Cabinet Ministers from outside. Under the former Cabinet, these Dr 'Ana Taufe'ulungaki and Clive Edwards who were selected by the Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano as members of his Cabinet.
If Lord Tu'ivakano is elected by the House as the Prime Minister for his second term in office, whether or not he will recall Dr 'Ana Taufe'ulungaki and Clive Edwards remains to be see.
Meanwhile, there are newly elected members with some interesting background.
Semisi Fakahau (Tongatapu 8) is a fisheries expert with a world wide working experience for the Commonwealth.
Pohiva Tui'onetoa (Tongatapu 10) has been the government's Auditor General for a number of years until he resigned this year to run for election. Tevita Lavemaau was a former Secretary for Finance of the Tongan government for a number of years.
Among the Independent members, Sione Vuna Fa'otusia (Tongatapu 7) is a former Civil Servant and has been a practice lawyer during the past few years.
Dr Saia Piukala (Vava'u 14) is a surgeon with the Ministry of Health
So who could be Tonga's next Prime Minister?
Tonga needs a leader who could rescue the Tongan economy from sliding into oblivion and who will have the charisma to harness the talents made available to him.
Tonga is expected to have a new Prime Minister and a new cabinet in place before the end of the year.