Parliament rejects a Bill to change Tonga's electoral system [1]
Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 20:45. Updated on Friday, October 25, 2013 - 08:36.
From the House, by Pesi Fonua
Tonga's parliament has rejected a Private Member's Bill that sought to change how Tongans elect a Prime Minister, and proposing that a care-taker government to run government when parliament closes at the end of the month, in preparation for the Parliamentary General Election in November next year.
The House this afternoon with a vote of 15-6 rejected the Private Member's Bill presented by 'Aisake Eke, the People's Representative No. 5 for Tongatapu, that has stirred up a few loud exchanges in the House since the Bill was introduced on Monday 21 October.
Two of the most controversial amendments that were proposed by 'Aisake, included for Tonga to have two election processes; first for the people and the nobles to elect their representatives into parliament, 17 for the people and nine for the nobles; and then for all eligible voters to elect a Prime Minister from the 26 elected members of parliament.
The second controversial proposed amendment was for the ruling government to be dissolved when parliament closes at the end of the month, and for a care-taker government to take over until the election in November next year.
All these proposed changes, according to 'Aisake, were to make Tonga's system of government more democratic.
Problems
However, since Tonga introduced its more democratic system of government nearly three years ago, the two fundamental principals that have yet to be achieved are accountability and unity, and the current system has been unable to stabilize itself and work toward solving Tonga's current depressing economic situation.
The problem appears to be that some members have not come to terms with the fact that the Tongan parliamentary system is based on the Westminster parliamentary system, but with a uniquely Tongan model, where instead of having a House of Lords and a House of Commons, there is only one House, which accommodates both the Lords or Nobles and the People's Representatives; but getting them to work together is the missing link.
The House closed this evening, and the Speaker, Lord Fakafanua, told members that they would be informed on when they will meet again.