Lord Lasike was recommended as the new Speaker with Lord Tu'i'afitu as Deputy Speaker by the 26 members of Tonga's Legislative Assembly at this afternoon's Special Meeting in Nuku'alofa.

This final session of the meeting followed this morning's secret ballot that resulted in Lord Tu'ivakano becoming the Prime Minister Designate after winning the majority 14 votes out of the 26 members.

The Interim Speaker Lord Tevita Tupou told to the meeting that Lord Tu'ivakano remains the Prime Minister Designate until the king appoints him. It is up to the King through the Lord Chamberlain to invite the Prime Minister Designate to be appointed, perhaps in the next few days, he said.

Speaker

In this afternoon's session, Tongatapu People's Representative, Sione Taione, nominated Lord Lasike as the Speaker of the House, while Vava'u People's Representative, Dr Viliami Latu, nominated Lord Tu'i'afitu as Deputy Speaker. All members supported the two nominations.

Lord Tupou thanked the 26 members of parliament for the hard work done and said he would inform the King of their recommendation for Speaker. The King would then invite the new Speaker to be appointed, he said.

He thanked both the People's Representatives and the Nobles Representatives for completing such a big task starting yesterday and continuing today, "in a historical and important time for Tonga".

First Sitting

According to the law the newly-appointed Prime Minister and Speaker shall decide the date of the first meeting of the Tonga Legislative Assembly.

Under the Legislative Assembly (Amendment) No. 2 Act 2010 it states that, "the first session of the Legislative Assembly after a General Election shall commence within six weeks of the declaration of the election result by the return of the Writs of Election. And the date of the first meeting of the session shall be decided by the Prime Minister and the Speaker, and after the date has been agreed, the Speaker shall inform the King accordingly.”

The Return of the Writ of Elections was on December 2, so the first session of the Legislative Assembly should be around mid-January or before.

It is understood that the caretaker Government will remain in place until the Prime Minister Designate is appointed by the King as the new Prime Minister of Tonga.

Under the act following the General Election Ministers shall be and remain as caretaker Ministers until their appointments are revoked or continued on the recommendation of the newly appointed Prime Minister.

"The Prime Minister may assign and re-assign ministries to and amongst the Cabinet Ministers", states the law.