Tonga Parliament elects Lord Fakafanua as Speaker [1]
Thursday, July 19, 2012 - 11:10. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
Lord Fakafanua
Lord Fakafanua, the No. 1 Noble's Representative for Ha'apai was elected as the new Speaker of the Tongan Parliament this morning, July 19.
It was a choice between Lord Fakafanua who received 17 votes and Lord Tu'ilakepa, a former Speaker, who received eight votes.
There was a third nomination by 'Akilisi Pohiva for the Minister of Health, Lord Tu'i'afitu to be the Speaker, but the Prime Minister said that normally a Speaker was elected from the Noble's Representatives, and not from Cabinet Ministers, so 'Akilisi's nomination was discarded.
During this morning's session Hon. Sangster Saulala was sworn in as the new Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Following the election of the new Speaker the Acting Speaker closed the House to allow the Prime Minister to inform the King, and for the completion of the process, with the appointment of the new Speaker by the King.
Once the new Speaker is appointed, next in the agenda is for a by-election to elect a new Nobles' Representative for 'Eua since Lord Lasike lost his seat on Tuesday, July 17.
Meanwhile, we are still waiting for the House to make a decision on the Vote of No Confidence in the Prime Minister that was tabled with the House last month.