No confidence moves in Tonga

TONGA – Tonga’s parliament has reportedly been rehearsing how to present a vote of no confidence sparking talk of political instability.

Matangi Tonga Online reports the parliament was seen last week rehearsing how to present and process a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister and his cabinet.

Tonga currently does not have a procedure in its parliamentary rules for votes of no confidence. Lord Vaea has been threatening to move a motion against the Prime Minister, ‘Akilisi Pohiva, since August.

The only previous attempt to remove a sitting prime minister was Pohiva himself moving against Lord Tu’ivakano in 2012, which failed.

Lord Tu’ivakano is now the Speaker of the House.

Due to the slow and expensive nature of the process in 2012, there are now efforts to speed it up, triggering further suspicions of a move against Pohiva before the end of his term.

- RNZI