Tonga's nobles are collectively calling on Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku to resign his defence portfolio as Minister of His Majesty's Armed Forces, and to respect the decision of King Tupou VI, who has withdrawn his consent to three ministerial appointments. The Nobles' Representatives told parliament today that the PM's response (a refusal) to the King had stirred concern about peace in the country.
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Results for Tonga politics
Thursday 29 February 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Thursday 24 August 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A motion for a vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku has been filed by 10 members of Tonga' Legislative Assembly, according to an MP who wishes not to be named.
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Tuesday 28 December 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
HM King Tupou VI this morning, 28 Dec., presented Tonga’s newly elected Prime Minister, Hon. Siaosi ‘Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni (51) with a Royal Warrant of Appointment at the Royal Palace in Nuku'alofa. He will hold the office of Prime Minister from 27 Dec. 2021 for four years. Meanwhile, the King has approved a new 12-member Cabinet and two Governors for Vava'u and Ha'apai, and the Warrants of Appointment were read and returned to the Legislative Assembly this afternoon. The names of the new government ministers are expected to be announced by the new Prime Minister soon.
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Tuesday 23 November 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's next Prime Minister will be found from among the 26 new Members of Parliament, and a new government determined before Christmas. King Tupou VI has appointed Rt. Hon. Lord Tangi as the Interim Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, to lead the constitutional process to elect the Prime Minister Designate. By Pesi Fonua
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Sunday 26 September 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The call for Tongans to be sensible and to select parliamentary representatives who will use their money wisely, is a message that we have heard repeatedly since the first election under our new system of government that was introduced in 2010. Campaigning is underway for the upcoming General Election on November 18, 2021, which will be the fourth General Election under our so-called “More Democratic System of Government”. But most interestingly, after 11 years, we find ourselves still living in Disneyland, with politicians promoting many different interpretations of the system of government and encouraging everyone to go along for the ride. By Pesi Fonua
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Wednesday 11 August 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tongan Parliament got off to a slow start yesterday, 10 August after its four weeks break. At first it did not have a quorum, so it went into recess for 10 minutes. In fact, the House was scheduled to resume on 2 August. However, it did not get rolling until yesterday morning. Government had tabled several Bills to the House only the day before the House resumed its proceeding. From the House by Pesi Fonua.
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Monday 10 May 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Parliament is deferred indefinitely while the House frames its response to the King's speech. King Tupou VI opened the 2021-22 parliamentary session on Thursday with a challenging speech from the throne that questioned members' abilities to run the government. From the House by Pesi Fonua
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Thursday 14 January 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga Legislative Assembly decided not to pursue Constitutional Contempt of Assembly against a member who used a religious reference when he criticized the Prime Minister’s, government funded, national tours for fasting and praying.
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Monday 5 October 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Prime Minister Hon. Dr Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa informed members of Parliament this morning that he would brief Parliament weekly on what government had achieved, before he released information to the media. Government will soon table into parliament a new Communication Offences Bill, “to address the misuse of social media”. From the House by Pesi Fonua.
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Wednesday 1 July 2020
Sydney, Australia
Ko e taha e fehu‘i tefito hotau fonua he ‘aho ni ko e fatongia ‘o e Hou‘eiki mo e Nopele ki he Fa‘unga Pule ‘o e ‘aho ni. Pea ko e hoha‘a ‘oku ma‘alifekina pe kohai ‘oku nau fakafofonga‘i ‘i Fale Alea. Pea he ‘ikai teu toe lave ki he faikehekehe ‘o Nopele mo e Hou‘eiki Tauhi Fonua he ko e kupu si‘i mo e lahi ‘o e me‘a tatau.. ‘Inoke Fotu Hu‘akau.
Thursday 13 February 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Isn't it unusual that there has not been a sitting of Parliament to welcome in a change of government, formed under a new Prime Minister in October last year? - Editor's Comment, by Pesi Fonua.
Saturday 31 August 2019
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's ailing Prime Minister Hon. 'Akilisi Pohiva (78) has a paramount concern: the succession of his leadership. He now faces opposition to the government he has headed since the elections of November 2014. There is rivalry and turmoil. He feels challenged. The reform is not what he imagined. He warns of clashes. Matangi Tonga Editor, Pesi Fonua talks to the Prime Minister about why, nine years after the reform, the PM remains at odds with the new system that parliament voted for in 2009.
Thursday 31 December 2015
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A year after Tonga’s second democratically elected government came into power at the end of December 2014, Tongan politics is stuck in the doldrums. The repetition by PM Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva that his government has the will to "take action" guided by the high moral principles of "good leadership, rule of law - justice for all and the fair distribution of national wealth," so far, are just hot air. The difference between what has been said and what has happened, speaks for itself. Editor's Comment by Pesi Fonua.
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Monday 30 November 2015
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
This is perhaps the most embarrassing and disappointing news about a Tongan government in the most recent times. This PM was well known for preaching against the previous Kings and their system of government, for not allowing justice and the voice of the people to be heard by the Government. - Rev Dr Ma'afu'otu'itonga Palu
Friday 2 January 2015
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
'Akilisi Pohiva, in his first press conference as Tonga's new Prime Minister, said that realistically his new government would not be able to implement their own working programs until they introduced their national budget for the 2015-16 financial year at the end of June.
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Thursday 1 November 2012
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's democratic adventure during the past two years has been full of intrigues, revelations and challenges. Unfortunately, these goings on have distracted the attention of the Cabinet and the Parliament from the pressing issue of the day, which is to get the Tongan economy back on its feet, or we will become heavily relying on others for our livelihoods. Editor's Comment, by Pesi Fonua
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Thursday 9 November 2006
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tension is mounting in the Tongan Parliament this week over the direction of the Political Reform that has been set in motion since the end of 2004. The drama is also a decoy by the politicians to distract public attention from the massive salary increase - backdated for two years - the Members have just taken for themselves.
Saturday 30 September 2000
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
While Tonga’s economy is under pressure from the Reserve Bank, because of a steep dive in the Foreign Reserve; and while the Private Sector and the government are preoccupied with far-sighted new projects in telecommunications, power generation and the marketing of Tongan produce overseas—projects that could secure a place for Tonga in the global economy of the 21st century—Parliament, somehow, has been looking inwards, and preoccupying itself with its internal affairs. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 3, September 2000.
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Saturday 30 September 2000
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
The saying that one can’t see the wood for the trees, is so appropriate to our situation in Tonga today. It has been pointed out numerous times, and we can see it with our own eyes, that we are blessed with a good country, where the weather is hospitable, and the soil is so fertile that plants can grow even in the sand. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 15, no. 3, September 2000.
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Thursday 1 July 1999
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
This year government cut its Budget to pay for the retirement and holiday travelling of public servants. It was more important for government to keep the 4,500 public servants happy, than to allocate funds to boost exports and to prop up the value of the pa‘anga. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 14, no. 3, July 1999.
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