How can the House work in unity while forming political parties? [1]
Sunday, June 20, 2021 - 21:21. Updated on Monday, June 21, 2021 - 06:59.
From the House by Pesi Fonua.
As we are heading for a General Election in November, Tonga's fourth election since 2010, it is logical to look back at how our new system of government has been in operation since the Democratisation Reform Program was introduced in 2010 - over a decade ago.
The three General Elections, have produced three Prime Ministers, Lord Tu’ivakano in 2010, Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva in 2014 and again in 2017 after an early election, until his death in 2019, when Hon. Pohiva Tu'ionetoa suceeded him.
HM King Tupou VI in August 2017 dissolved parliament, after intense deliberation over three petitions concerning His Majesty’s Government. The then Prime Minister, Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva and his Cabinet became a Caretaker Government.
However, they were soon returned by the electorates in a November 2017 General Election. ‘
After 'Akilisi passed away on 12 September 2019, the Rev. Dr Tu’i'onetoa, a Cabinet Minister in what was known as 'Akilisi's PATOA Party’s government, was elected as Prime Minister by members of parliament, ostensibly to complete the time in office of ‘Akilisi and the PATOA Party, until the next scheduled election.
That was not actually happened, because after the members of parliament chose Hon. Dr Rev Pohiva Tu’I’onetoa he was with a new party, the People’s Party.
So since then the Tongan Parliament has been made up of members of two political groups, the Friendly Islands Democratic Party (PATOA) and the People’s Party.
Party Politics
The controversial issue that we are facing today is that the Democratisation Reform Program that was introduced in 2010 stated clearly that members of parliament are elected into parliament as individuals, and the voting in the House is by consensus. The reform was not structured for political parties, as we have today.
The defunct structure of the parliament that we have today, was recently pointed out by the King in his opening speech [2] of the 2021-2022 Parliament on 6 May.
“The House (Parliament) is not fulfilling its responsibility to oversee the work of the government of the day,” King Tupou VI warned the members of parliament.
The response by the House tothe king’s speech was delivered by the Speaker, Lord Fakafanua and the Prime Minister to the Palace Office on 21 May.
In their letter, they expressed that they were overwhelmed by the Kng's opening speech of parliament, but they accept with respect the message from the Throne and they were seeking his mercy and forgiveness.
They stressed to the King that the House and the Government were working in unity “Kafataha” - to accomplish whatever the King instructed them to do.
There was no response from the House to the King's concern that “The House (Parliament) is not fulfilling its responsibility to oversee the work of the government of the day.”
Instead, the response from the House was that the House is “Kafataha”.
Therefore this statement of unity raises the obvious question: how can the House work in unity when majority of members are from two political parties?
This is only one of a number of unanswered questions about our House of the Legislative Assembly, but they can not be answered, because after 2021-2022 Annual Budget was passed on 10 June, parliament was closed because the Prime Minister and his Cabinet went off to ‘Eua.
In 'Eua the King opened his new Army Base, followed by Fasting and Praying, and other events.
The Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga is also having their annual conference in ‘Eua this week, and according to a spokesperson from Parliament, the House will resume once the PM and his Cabinet return from ‘Eua.