King appoints Lord Tupou as Interim Speaker [1]
Friday, December 3, 2010 - 10:16. Updated on Saturday, May 17, 2014 - 18:53.
LORD Tupou was appointed yesterday as the Interim Speaker of Tonga's Legislative Assembly and will call for nominations for Tonga's Prime Minister Designate.
It is understood that King George Tupou V made the appointment of the Interim Speaker at around midday yesterday.
The appointment will be announced at press conference set for 11:00 am today in Nuku'alofa, when the new Interim Speaker will explain the process for deciding who will become Tonga's new Prime Minister.
Lord Tupou is one of the king's four law lords, and a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General, and a former judge.
Meanwhile, last night Tonga's caretaker Prime Minister Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele said that a new Prime Minister would be known within, "a couple of weeks." He was speaking a function held at the residence of the Ambassador of Japan 'Anana, held in honour of the birthday of the Emperor of Japan.
The Supervisor of Elections Pita Vuki is expected to hand the Results of the Writ of Election to the king's Lord Chamberlain, Viella Tupou, today.