Tonga may have a new Prime Minister by the end of the September. The Speaker of Parliament on 26 September will read out nominations and call for the 25 members of parliament to elect a new Prime Minister.

The Tongan Legislative Assembly has been given six days from 20-26 September to nominate candidates to become Prime Minister of Tonga.

The Speaker of Tonga’s Legislative Assembly, Lord Fakafanua on Friday 20 September invited the 25 elected members of the Tongan Legislative Assembly to nominate a candidate to be elected as the new Prime Minister of Tonga.

Nominations must be submitted by an elected representative to the Legislative Assembly, and seconded by two other elected representatives.

The acceptance of nominations will close at 4.30pm on Thursday 26 September 2019.

A date for when the Speaker will open and read out the nominations will be announced following the closing of nominations.

By-election

On Friday 20 September Lord Fakafanua also issued a writ for a by-election to elect a People’s Representative for Tongatapu Constituency No. 1.

The former Prime Minister, Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva was the People’s Representative for the Tongatapu Constituency No. 1.

The Electoral Commission will later announce the date and the place for a Tongatapu Constituent No. 1 by-election.