Mangisi proposal for a Democratic Parliament in Tonga [1]
Monday, July 17, 2006 - 16:30. Updated on Sunday, May 11, 2014 - 12:16.
A new proposal for a Parliamentary Democratic form of government was presented by Sione Tapani Mangisi to the Kingdom of Tonga National Committee for Political Reform on June 22 in Melbourne, Australia.
Mangisi proposed a political system where the power and authority of the king is transferred to the people of Tonga as represented in Parliament.
"The one vital change that must happen is for the monarchy to divest its political, legislative and judicial functions to allow Parliament to be the final law making body of the nation, and not subject to veto by the monarch and the Privy Council," he said. Tonga would remain a constitutional monarchy but the king...s role would be advisory, similar to that of the British Queen.
He said that all members of Parliament would be elected on the basis of universal suffrage for all Tongans citizens, and the Prime Minister be elected by the members of Parliament and he in return would select members of parliament to be appointed as Cabinet Ministers.
"Tonga should be a parliamentary democracy where all power and authority, and the legitimacy of Parliament emanates from the people at the ballot box. Government would truly be of the people, by the people and for the people," said Tapani.
He also proposed for the Privy Council to be abolished and its powers to be divested to the Prime Minister and cabinet.
Tapani said the political power of the Privy Council in deciding government policy should be divested to the Prime Minister and Cabinet on behalf of the people and their representatives in Government.