By Katalina Siasau in the Tonga Legislative Assembly

Tonga’s Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku (Siaosi Sovaleni) has resigned this morning, at the end of a speech to parliament, ahead of a Motion for a vote of no Confidence that was expected to be tabled in parliament today.

At the opening of today's session a teary-eyed  Prime Minister asked the Lord Speaker if he could say a few words, before the Motion was tabled. He was permitted to address the House.

“I'll be resigning as Prime Minister for Tonga, in accordance with Clause 50A (2)(c) of the Constitution, effective immediately today,” he said.

He had earlier acknowledged the MP who had submitted the Motion, the Peoples Representatives of Tongatapu 5, Dr. 'Aisake Eke, saying, "Use your skills, your knowledge, do not rely on a Noble to tell you what to do.”

"Today with respect to His Majesty, the unity and for the good of our nation as a whole with my immense love for those that we stood together, and to those nobles who moved sides because they were afraid, just leave it to me to bear the brunt and pain.

“I thought this nation had been granted freedom but there is still restraint (fakapōpula),” he said.

"I will untie this knot so that you will have your freedom to choose," Hon Hu'akavameiliku said.

Not tabled

The motion has not been tabled and there was no deliberation on the motion in the House this morning.

The House has closed for lunch and will resume its session at 2:00pm. It is not clear, at this stage, what will happen to the motion.

When asked by Matangi Tonga, why he decided to resign, Hon. Hu'akavameiliku said, “I think Tonga has been through a lot, don’t need to put them through another vote and all that, so I might as well just resign and provide some kind of support moving forward.”

The Prime Minister called for a press conference at lunchtime.

The intention to file the motion was submitted to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga by Hon. Dr ‘Aisake Eke in a group of 10 members of parliament, on Saturday, 23 November.

The motion was initially set to be tabled on 3 December but was postponed to 9 December, today, due to the Prime Minister's commitments to attend graduation ceremonies at the end of the school year. He is also the Minister for Education.

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See also:

Friday, November 29, 2024 PM requests more time to respond to Motion for a Vote of No Confidence [2]

Tuesday, November 26, 2024 Motion for vote of no confidence to be tabled on 3 December [3]

Monday, November 25, 2024 PM given until Friday to respond to No Confidence motion [4]