By Pesi Fonua

The resistance of the late Prime Minister Hon. 'Akilisi Pohiva to the ideas of formalizing his party and establishing a succession plan, has led to a falling apart of the Paati Temokalati ‘Otumotu Anga‘ofa (PATOA), and the closing of a chapter in Tonga's Democratic Reform process.

The intense leadership rivalry within PATOA, revolves around bloodlines and unwritten rules and the perceived expectations of its late populist leader.

When he died in September 2019, 'Akilisi had not stepped down from his leadership role, defying his advisors who had urged him to step back because of his deteriorating health.

Today, members of his family: his son Siaosi Pohiva, who won ‘Akilisi's parliamentary seat in the 2019 by-election; his son-in-law and former cabinet minister Mateni Tapueluelu; and his close political allies, former Deputy Prime Minister Semisi Sika and the current Prime Minister Hon. Pohiva Tu'ioneto'a; have demonstrated their own divided political visions and ambitions.

Widely shared

A revealing letter written by the then secretary of PATOA, Mateni Tapueluelu to the party chairman Semisi Sika on March 6, has been widely shared and commented upon. It exposed fault lines that have split the informal party.

Mateni Tapueluelu, wrote the letter in response to a demand by Semisi.

Apparently, Mateni had not attended six consecutive meetings of the PATOA, and the chairman wrote to him on 5 March demanding a response within five days – or failing that they would take it that Mateni was no longer a member of the party.

Mateni responded that he could not meet the deadline, and that he would respond to the chairman's letter once he had free time.

Mateni, who married a daughter of ‘Akilisi, had managed the election campaigns of his father-in-law and the PATOA in three general elections, in 2010, 2014 and 2017. A very close working relationship was developed between the two politicians.

According to Mateni's letter, when ‘Akilisi visited him and his wife in April 2019, when the PM's health started to deteriorate, 'Akilisi had expressed a view that he wanted to resign as Prime Minister, but remain as a member of parliament. He was seeking Mateni’s assistance to find legal advice on how to go about it.

Mateni stated that he contacted the Acting Attorney General ‘Aminiasi Kefu, and asked for his advice. The AAG's advice on 29 April 2019 was for 'Akilisi to step down from his position as a Prime Minister, while retaining his People’s Representative seat, and promoting Semisi Sika, then Deputy PM, to become the PM. Mateni said he gave ‘Aminiasi’s advice to the Prime Minister.

However, ‘Akilisi did not follow the advice and five months later in September, passed away.

Expectations

The letter explains that when ‘Akilisi was in a serious condition at Vaiola Hospital, before he was transferred to New Zealand, Mateni and Semisi went to Vaiola, with other sympathisers.  Mateni said he asserted loudly that with the uncertain state of party affairs if ‘Akilisi died, Pohiva Tu‘i‘ionetoa would become Prime Minister.

From Mateni’s letter to Semisi, it is clear that if ‘Akilisi had resigned as the Prime Minister, but remained a People’s Representative in the House, he would have solidified the political power of the PATOA in parliament and when he passed away, the Deputy PM, Semisi Sika would, probably, have advanced to become the new PM, to complete 'Akilisi and the PATOA cabinet's four year term in parliament.

That is not what happened.

After ‘Akilisi died, his former Finance Minister Pohiva Tu‘i‘ionetoa and his followers left the PATOA to form and register a new political party, garnering significant support among MPs. Then members of parliament rejected Semisi's bid to become PM and elected Pohiva as the new PM, taking over from ‘Akilisi to complete his term in office. The vote in parliament was between Semisi and Pohiva.

As a result Semisi lost his position as the Deputy PM, when his rival the new PM Pohiva Tu‘i‘ionetoa appointed a new Deputy PM and a number of new Cabinet Ministers, replacing some Cabinet Ministers who were loyal PATOA members, including Mateni.

Bloodlines

Then at the end of 2019 in a by-election, ‘Akilisi’s eldest son, Siaosi Pohiva won his late father's seat in the Tonga Legislative Assembly, and with it, some assumed, would come an inherited leadership role in the PATOA.

Siaosi Pohiva as the new People’s Representative for Tongatapu Constituency No. 1, was pushing for the PATOA to be formally registered as a political party and for the party to elect a new leader.

Mateni pointed out that he had been pushed out as the secretary of the Party. Siaosi Pohiva had taken over as secretary, and Semisi Sika was still the chairman of the party.

'Akilisi, according to Mateni, had rejected the idea of officially registering the PATOA, because it would mean that members could vote out the leader of the party whenever they wanted to. According to Mateni, Semisi Sika was the unelected leader of the PATOA.

So in the end, when looking a the rivalry, the unanswered question remains: who shall become the new unelected leader of the unregistered PATOA, in Tonga's non-political party system of govenment?

See also: Tonga's reforms hung out to dry [2]