Call to dissolve parliament

TONGA – Three petitions with over 10,000 signatures calling for the King of Tonga to dissolve parliament and launch an investigation into the government have been presented to the palace in Nuku’alofa.

Matangi Tonga reported the petitions, presented on Monday, come alongside claims there were no checks and balances and corruption existed in government.

A former government minister Clive Edwards presented a petition signed by former politicians. Noble MP Lord Nuku presented a petition from the country’s nobles.

The third petition was presented by former MP Teisina Fuko from members of the general public. Fuko said a fourth petition from another sector of society also being prepared.

Edwards said he believed that once a Royal Commission for Investigation was appointed, a caretaker government would need to be put in place.

Fuko said there was pressure for a major public demonstration to present the petitions, but they decided it was best to avoid possible confrontations with government supporters. - RNZ