Political Reformer optimistic for Tonga to remain a Constitutional Monarchy [1]
Sunday, October 27, 2019 - 22:39. Updated on Sunday, October 27, 2019 - 22:46.
By Pesi Fonua
Former Prime Minister, Lord Sevele ‘o Vailahi is optimistic that Tonga’s political reform program can proceed, following the change of government on 27 September.
Lord Sevele was Prime Minister when the late King George Tupou V launched Tonga’s new system of government a decade ago.
While the political reform of 2009 made the system “more democratic”, Parliament had agreed at the same time that Tonga would remain a Constitutional Monarchy.
But that direction became clouded under the successive governments of the last few years.
Constitutional Monarchy v. Republic
Lord Sevele was fully convinced that Tonga's previous government during its nearly five years in office had been pushing for Tonga to become a Republic and not to remain a Constitutional Monarchy.
“ ‘Akilisi’s mission was to do away with the nobility having any say in the House,” he said in an interview with Matangi Tonga on October 21.
Lord Sevele was Prime Minister from 2006-15. He recalled that he was invited for a luncheon with ‘Akilisi Pohiva and ‘Uliti Uata, who were then People’s Representatives. “They wanted to reduce the number of Nobles’ Representatives to only four, and they wanted the Nobles’ Representatives to parliament to be elected by the People.”
Lord Sevele believed that the push by the former government for Tonga to become a Republic, under the control of a few, was very damaging and had resulted in a dysfunctional government. For example, he pointed out that the reform of 2009 aimed for the civil service to operate under the guidance of their Chief Executive Officers without the interference of government ministers. But under successive governments since then it was no longer possible for CEOs to do their jobs, as the government ministers were running the ministries. “They wanted the Minister to control the CEO, which is wrong... They wanted [politicians] to run it as they wanted. When they talked about transparency and accountability, it was totally wrong.”
Time to adjust
He believed that Tonga's new Prime Minister Dr Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa, who was elected by parliament on 27 September 2019, was unlikely to follow in the footsteps of the late Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva.
“With this new government I think we should give them time to adjust and move forward. We have nobility and people working together in Cabinet.... I think they will work together.”
Political parties
But the big unanswered question remains: How can Tonga have a government that is controlled by a political party, running a Constitutional Monarchy system of government – a system that was not designed for political parties?
The late Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva became Prime Minister as the leader of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (PATOA), a party of associated MPs.
Lord Sevele recalled that during the three or four years when they were working on the Constitutional Reform – “the Party System was not discussed much or at all.
“The most important thing for me is that people are going into the House; with their commitment to do the right thing for Tonga and its people,” he said.
Individual representation
Parliament is made up of individual representatives, including nine Nobles’ Representatives elected by the 30 Nobles of the Realm, and 17 People’s Representatives elected by the 17 Constituencies.
The reform has allowed People's Representatives to take elected leadership roles that were traditionally the prerogative of nobles.
Lord Sevele who was appointed in March 2006 was the first Tongan commoner to become Prime Minister, serving for five years.
Political reform
Tonga’s new system of government that was passed by the House on 18 December 2009 envisaged that:
- Tonga to remain a Constitutional Monarchy under the leadership of King George Tupou V and his heirs;
- The King in the Privy Council to appoint the Chief Justice, the judges of the Appeal Court and the Attorney General. The Privy Council to also be the Court of Appeal for dispute over hereditary titles;
- The King to have the authority to assent legislation dismantle parliament and to pardon prisoners;
- The members of the Privy Council to be appointed by the King and their role is to advise the King;
- The Privy Council to no longer have the authority to pass ordinances;
- The Tongan Parliament to have 26 members, and of these 17 to be elected by the people and nine to be elected by the 33 noble title holders.
Campaigns
However, because parliament elects the Prime Minister, the candidates feel a need to get members on their side to win votes in the short term.
In September's election for the new Prime Minister both Dr Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa and his rival the former Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Semisi Sika, presented themselves as members of “parties”.
In his campaign speech before the House, Dr Tu‘i‘onetoa announced that he was a member of new party they had formed, called the People’s Party, and not a member of the PATOA Party.
So based on the campaign speeches it appears that the Tongan Parliament is now made up of two political parties, despite the fact that the system legislates that MPs are elected as individuals and there are no rules for political parties.
Despite this twist in Tonga’s parliamentary system, Dr Feleti Sevele was convinced that the Constitutional Monarchy System of government remained to be the best and most secure system for Tonga with its culture of traditional leadership.
“The monarchy has been with us for thousands of years,” he said.
Lord Sevele commented that Tonga's neighbours New Zealand and Australia had seen movements for them to become republics. “But a majority of the people still don’t want that, a majority still want Her Majesty [Queen Elizabeth II] to be the Head of State. We have our King, the monarchy. Politicians come and go, the monarchy will always be there for us,” he said.
“Our national security of country and the lives of the people are protected by the Rule of Law. Take that away, what have we got? Chaos.”
Lord Sevele said the Constituency system meant that it was now up to the people. “We the electors have to elect the right people, people with the right training.
“When you look at the calibre of the people who were appointed by the monarchy compared with those who were elected, there is a big difference... There is no strategy of moving Tonga forward...If we can’t get the right people then [perhaps] we should go back to the old system.”
“It is something for us Tongans to remember when we elect someone as a member of parliament.
“We were respected in the Pacific. But during the last few years I have been asked, what is happening to Tonga?”
Lord Sevele was optimistic, however, that Tonga’s new 12 Cabinet Ministers would eventually get the decade old “more democratic” reform program implemented, and that Tonga would remain a Constitutional Monarchy.
“Let's make the reform work,” he said.
See also:
25 October 2009, House silent on Constitutional Monarchy forever. [2]
15 December 2015, Political Party hijacks reform. [3]