Tonga’s new PM sparks wide debate amid praise and concern

Tonga’s political future is under intense scrutiny following the election of Lord Fakafanua as Prime Minister, as critics warn the kingdom’s democratic reforms may be at risk.

Fakafanua, 40, was elected Tonga’s Prime Minister in Parliament on Monday, becoming the first Noble PM in over a decade.

But Teisa Pohiva, lawyer and daughter of the late pro-democracy Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva, says Fakafanua’s victory is a “sad day for Tonga’s democratic reforms”.

In a social media post, she says key public appointments, including the Attorney-General and Police Commissioner, are made by the King and his Privy Council.

“Now the Prime Minister and head of government is also a Noble who is so closely linked to the King and who got into Parliament with only THREE VOTES from his fellow nobles,” her post read.

“We strive for justice and good governance, but how can we achieve them in a system so inherently set up to resist justice and good governance?”

Lawyer and pro-democracy advocate Teisa Pohiva. Photo/Supplied

But others see the appointment as a step forward for Tonga. Pakilau Manase Lua, advocate and Tongan community leader in Aotearoa New Zealand, says Fakafanua’s election is a “breath of fresh air”.

While praising outgoing Prime Dr ‘Aisake Eke and previous leaders for their service, Pakilau told William Terite on Pacific Mornings that Fakafanua is a strong leader and will prove to be a good step forward for the Kingdom.

Fakafanua, who entered Parliament at 24 after inheriting his father’s noble title, is also a great-grandson of the late King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV through his maternal side and holds the royal estate in the populous village of Ma’ufanga.

Advocate and traditional spokesman, Pakilau o Aotearoa Manase Lua. Photo/Supplied

Fakafanua won 16 of 26 votes in the Prime Minister selection process, defeating Eke who served for 10 months.

“I’ve got to take my hate off to Dr ‘Aisake Eke, a very safe pair of hands and he had the support of His Majesty [The King],” Pakilau says.

“So I need to also pay respects to all the previous people who’ve held those influential and powerful positions because it’s not easy.”

Pakilau says Tonga still has work to do on democratic reforms but he urged a balanced perspective.

“Tonga has gone a long way from where it was before but in saying that, we can't throw the baby out with the bathwater. There is a saying in Tonga, oku kei Tonga, pe a Tonga. Tonga is still Tonga.”

Tonga now awaits the announcement of the new Cabinet, which will confirm the make-up of the kingdom's next government, while the King is expected to formally appoint Lord Fakafanua in the coming days.

Watch Pakilau o Aotearoa Manase Lua's full interview below.