By Matangi Tonga reporters

Tonga's new Prime Minister Designate, Hon. Dr 'Aiske Eke is currently addressing the House after winning a secret ballot 16 votes to 8 votes, to defeat the rival nominee Dr Viliami Latu.

After the Speaker announced the result, the PM Designate acknowledged the members of the House and Diplomatics corps, and accepted the outcome of the secret ballot.

“Speaker, I humbly accept this responsibility,” he said.

Dr ʻAisake Valu Eke, from the village of Vaotu’u, Tongatapu, is a former Minister of Finance of Tonga (2014-2017).

He has served three terms in parliament after being elected as People’s Representative for Tongatapu 5 in the general elections of 2010, 2014 and 2021.

Most recently he has served as the House Chairman of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.

He was previously nominated for Prime Minister in November 2021, when he came in second place to Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni (Hon. Hu’akavameiliku).

Hon. Hu’akavameiliku resigned on 9 December 2024 ahead of a Motion for a Vote of No Confidence in the House, that that was led by Dr Eke.

Business administration and accounting

Dr Eke was first elected to Parliament on 25 November, 2010, as MP for Tongatapu 5.

He was the Minister for Finance and National Planning from 13 January, 2014 to 6 March, 2017.

Dr. 'Aisake Eke is a Senior lecturer and Professor at the University of Christ and Tupou Tertiary Institute.

He earned his Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from University of South Queensland, Australia (Doctoral Thesis: Quality Service in the Public Sector in Tonga), and is a CPA (Australia Society of Accountants), Australia.

Before pursuing his doctoral degree he graduated with a BA (Accounting & Economics) from USP, Suva, Fiji, MBA (Master of Business Administration) from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia,

He has 14 years working experience at Tonga's Ministry of Finance, including as Secretary and CEO.