Editor,

As someone who has recently spent two years in Tonga, I followed the recent elections with great interest. I was elated and satisfied when the Democratic Party won twelve of the seventeen seats. With such an overwhelming majority of voters turning out for the Democratic Party, as well as quotes from government officials confirming a desire for a "commoner" to be the next Prime Minister, I was excited to see Tonga's continued movement away from the outdated government previously used.

Upon logging onto Matangi Tonga this afternoon, I was extremely dismayed at the result of the secret ballot. Forgetting the fact that the voting should be public (after all, the majority are publicly elected officials and should be held accountable to their constituents), hearing that a noble had been elected Prime Minister seems like quite a regression from the positivity and optimism so recently enjoyed.

Knowing the twelve of the seventeen people's representatives are from the Democratic Party, it is clear that a member of the Democratic Party (specifically, Pohiva) should have been chosen. In realizing their fear of losing power, I believe the nobles did a disservice to the Tongan people by swaying the votes of the "independents". I am also very disappointed with my former home (Vava'u) for electing three of the representatives that, for all intents and purposes, has kept
the nobility in power.

I fear for the future of my adopted country when, after four years of supposed progress, it seems like nothing has really changed. I pray my pessimism is unfounded, and indeed that these elections will usher in a new government and a better future for Tonga. However, from a distance, it seems like the power remains in familiar hands, and that these hands have and will continue to be self serving, without the accountability that elected officials must show.

With hopeful optimism,

Scott Yurcheshen.