Pohiva leadership under siege

TONGA – A Nobles representative has warned Tonga’s prime minister there will be efforts to remove him during the next session of parliament which begins at the end of the week.

Lord Fusitu‘a said there have been a series of breaches of the rule of law, of the principles of democracy and the Constitution under the government of ‘Akilisi Pohiva.

Pohiva had already survived a vote of no-confidence and another such vote cannot be submitted until next year – but Lord Fusitu‘a said a group of MPs are looking at other avenues to remove the prime minister.

He said something needs to be done because there was discontent and disillusionment throughout the country.

“It’s definitely throughout the community and the country but it is even more acute in parliament because we have more of an inside knowledge of what this current administration is doing publicly and behind the scenes,” he said.

“So, current breaches of the rule of law that the public are aware of and current breaches of the rule of law that the public are not aware of – which I understand will be the grounds for a number of impeachments.”

Lord Fusitu‘a said Pohiva can’t be allowed to finish his term as prime minister if the country was to prosper.

Even though there was little more than 18 months remaining in that term, Lord Fusitu‘a said public sector sackings and the recent withdrawal for the support of the Pacific Games hosting illustrate that action was needed urgently.

“It’s unconscionable for us to let the country suffer for another year and a half and – they may not say so – but I think our Pacific neighbours, both the metropolitan and the island nations, would agree that something needs to be done to get Tonga back on track,” he said.

Lord Fusitu‘a said there may also be an attempt to block the budget.

A Tonga newspaper on Saturday published a front page article calling for Pohiva to step down because of incompetence

Kalafi Moala, who publishes the Taimi ‘o Tonga newspaper and was once Pohiva’s media adviser, said his newspaper was providing a voice for the growing number of people unhappy with Pohiva’s leadership.

“Many, many people feel that he should be out. That he needs to have somebody else to lead the country that is more competent.”

“I mean, if you are going to have a politician, you better have a politician you can trust and that is not our experience with him,” he said.

“So we feel that we are to provide a voice for the voiceless, those people that are calling for him to be replaced.”

- PNC/RNZI