A move by ten members of the Tongan parliament to topple Tonga's first majority-elected government with a Motion for a Vote of No Confidence in the Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano, on June 18, has plunged Tongan politics into its most unstable state, since the political maneuvering by some politicians with a similar intention resulted in the mindless burning of the Nuku'alofa Central Business District on November 16, 2006. From the House, by Pesi Fonua.
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Results for politics
Thursday 16 August 2012
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Thursday 5 April 2012
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Lord Sevele, who was Tonga's Prime Minister for five years, from February 2006 to December 2011, during the planning and the implementation of the Political Reform Program, has described HM the late King George Tupou V as "a visionary leader and a man of substance," who further democratized Tonga's Constitutional Monarchy system of government by surrendering to parliament some of his executive power. Interview by Pesi Fonua.
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Sunday 25 March 2012
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
"Political Reforms in Tonga", an unsigned paper circulated in January 2012.
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Tuesday 27 December 2011
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
There will be no reduction in the size of Tonga's civil service in the 2012-13 budget, according to Tonga's Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano, whose new government, this year supported with a foreign aid-funded budget lifeline, hopes to advance Tonga's political and economic development, somehow, during its remaining three years term in office. By Pesi Fonua.
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Wednesday 26 October 2011
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Reforms in countries, like Tonga, and some other Pacific Island countries have produced administrations with no clear and coherent national visions and who are unable to work as a team, regional public service representatives heard in Tonga this week. By Pesi Fonua.
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Sunday 23 October 2011
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Some simple arithmetic tells us that the House has met for only 164 hours this year - that's only 41 sittings - before they softly closed on Thursday October 21, before all their work was done. From the House, by Pesi Fonua.
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Tuesday 31 May 2011
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Since the end of the Cold War, the larger Western powers, the US and UK, started to lose interest in the Pacific. From a Western security perspective, the day-to-day management of the region was handed over to Australia and New Zealand. Unfortunately, in an increasingly multipolar world, all sorts of new foreign policy options are available. By Cleo Paskal.
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Friday 14 January 2011
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tongatapu People's Representative Siosifa Tu'utafaiva has been voted by the House as the new Chairman of the Whole House Committee during this afternoon's session of the Tonga Legislative Assembly, following his unexplained absence during the morning.
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Wednesday 22 December 2010
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North Carolina, USA
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. - Scott Yurcheshen.
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Thursday 9 September 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Visiting Tonga in early September an award-winning writer and geopolitical expert, Cleo Paskal, is looking closely at Tonga's political reform process in a country she says is "a remarkable, spectacular place" that is now in a unique situation of having to think through many of the fundamentals of an electoral process from scratch. - by Mary Lyn Fonua
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Wednesday 8 September 2010
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Brisbane, Australia
Surely, something is wrong with how the government relates to its senior legal professions. Two attorney generals and two judges ended their contract with the government in highly controversial fashion. - Tino Funaki.
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Thursday 1 July 2010
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Salt Lake City-Utah, USA
It is clear that Tongan leaders are neither bringing the Aristotlean Participatory Democracy model known as "the rule of the many." Nor do they plan for a Representative Democracy model (egalitarianism). - Sione Akemeihakau Mokofisi.
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Sunday 8 November 2009
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Tofoa, Tongatapu
eading responses to the Parliament of Tonga's decision of CEDAW at Matangi Tonga attracts one to think deeper and dig deep about our modern cultures, where Christianity is the cornerstone of our nation's foundation. If our nation has no reservations other than 100% compliance with all articles of CEDAW, our government has whole heartedly won my support. -Kisione Taufa
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Saturday 7 November 2009
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Pago Pago, American Samoa
A city was burnt and lives lost to force a more democratic Tonga. But now the Demo-Movement leaders will not ratify the CEDAW.
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Friday 10 July 2009
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Salt Lake City-Utah, USA
Tonga's so-called pro-democracy camp whined like spoiled brats who expected attention from the NZ PM's state visit NZ Prime Minister visits Tonga, 08 July, 2009), but who were left irrelevant in the cold. -Sione A. Mokofisi
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Saturday 20 June 2009
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Salt Lake City-Utah, USA
Your report (Fix it with flowers, 19 June, 2009) best illustrated the People's Representatives anti-growth mentality, lack of business knowledge, while salivating for Big Government to control business and finance. -Sione A. Mokofisi
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Thursday 11 June 2009
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Auckland, New Zealand
You have been uncomfortable with the push to implement the changes and never mind the consequences. This report shares your long-held view and congratulations. I am particularly impressed that the Commission recognized the need for a more informed electorate and that our communities need to be better informed so that they can better anticipate the changes and its impact on their lives. The wider concern over land tenure is a welcome surprise at this late stage. - Sefita Hao'uli
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Monday 1 June 2009
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Auckland, New Zealand
I must say I breathed a sigh of relief when I read the King's speech at the opening of parliament. I used to feel a mounting anxiety as 2010 drew closer and closer for the political reforms, and we had only just begun to see real changes to how things are run (e.g. great access to information with the new ministry web sites). -Josephine Latu
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Thursday 29 January 2009
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Belgrade, Serbia
History has it that there was not yet a single year without war in history known to a mankind, and that war has been fought since time immemorial. Therefore, the biggest question today would be: Is it really possible to end wars? -Ivan Simic
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Wednesday 7 January 2009
Belgrade, Serbia
In our World, there are lots of countries, nations, languages, religions, cultures, costumes but also lots of disagreements. History has it that there was never peace and respect among nations since the formation of the first State. From the beginning of the first conflict till date, wars have been fought for the same cause: political differences, trade, religion, liberation, dynasty, seizure of territory, the annihilation of a rival State, the destruction of the enemy's ability to prosecute military action, revolution or genocide. - Ivan Simic
