Posted on 15 March 2024
Tongan Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni recently met with King Tupou VI in Niuafo’ou to address disagreements that had arisen in early February. Although no official updates have been released by either the Prime Minister’s Office or the Royal Palace Office in Nuku’alofa, RNZ Pacific has confirmed the meeting. Accompanied by several ministers, including Lord Fohe (Minister of Fisheries) and Lord Tu’i’afitu (Minister of Lands), Hu’akavameiliku sought clarification from the King regarding his withdrawal of support for Hu’akavameiliku as the Minister of Defence and for 'Utoikamanu as Minister of Foreign Affairs. The situation has sparked heated debates in the Tongan Parliament, with the government asserting that both ministers will continue to serve in their respective portfolios. The ongoing dispute highlights the delicate balance between political leadership and royal authority in Tonga.
Source: RNZ
Photo Governor-General of New Zealand, via Wikimedia Commons