Results for Politics

No reason was offered by the Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku today over why he had resigned his defence portfolio. He said his conversation with King Tupou VI on the matter was “private”. However, at a media conference this afternoon, following the announcement that Cabinet Minister Fekita 'Utoikamanu had also resigned her Foreign Affairs and Tourism portfolios, he revealed that his former Minister of Foreign Affairs is being sued by the Secretary for Foreign Affairs (the Lord Privy Seal).

The Prime Minister's Office today has not addressed a rumour, circulated on social media at the weekend, that the Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku had resigned as Minister of His Majesty's Armed Forces, and likewise, Hon. Fekitamoeloa 'Utoikamanu as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Tourism.

Following Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku’s decision to retain his Foreign Minister this week, after King Tupou VI in Privy Council withdrew his consent to her appointment, some unanswered questions have been raised about how much power the Monarchy actually possesses over the Kingdom’s foreign policy decisions.

News today, that King Tupou VI has initiated steps to remove the portfolios from two government ministers, has raised more questions than answers. In the firing line are the Minister for His Majesty's Armed Forces, Hon. Hu'akavameiliku and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Tourism, Hon. Fekitamoeloa 'Utoikamanu.

The Tonga Government will respect the decisions of the courts on electoral petitions, the Prime Minister, Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, stated today after the Supreme Court voided the election of his Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Poasi Tei this morning. The PM made his statement after the May 16 date set by the Speaker for unseating members, in line with the court decisions, was deferred today “until further notice”.

Limited “public hearings” organised by a Parliamentary Standing Committee will be held today and tomorrow at undisclosed locations for registered attendees to talk about a new “Tonga Sports and Recreation Bill 2021”. The bill proposes an Act that, critics argue, will give government new powers to direct activities of independent national sports associations, and give politicians more control over how funding for sports is used.

Tonga’s Minister of Justice and Deputy PM, Hon. Vuna Fa’otusia, resigned from Cabinet on Friday, 11 December, according to a reliable government source. The resignation comes during a political leadership upheaval, with a letter to parliament last week for a Vote of No Confidence against the Prime Minister.

Former Prime Minister, Lord Sevele ‘o Vailahi is optimistic that Tonga’s political reform program can proceed, following the change of government on 27 September. “Let's make the reform work,” he said.

An urgent bill pushed by Cabinet last month – the National Spatial Planning And Management (Amendment) Bill 2019 – aims to replace the King’s authority in appointing the ‘Planning Tribunal’ which adjudicates appeals filed by applicants against decisions made by the National Spatial Planning Authority, a body that assesses and approves draft plans of land/development projects.