‘Time to have a noble Prime Minister’: Lord Vaea pushes for nobility to steer Tonga’s future

Calls for a noble to lead Tonga’s next government have intensified after this year’s election returned a mostly unchanged group of Noble Representatives, including newcomer Lord Ma’afu.

With one fresh face joining Parliament and the country waiting to learn the results for the People’s Representatives, debate has reignited over who should hold the prime ministership - the nobility or the people’s elected MPs.

The question has resurfaced at a key moment, as Tonga prepares for government formation and political leaders signal very different visions for the path ahead.

Lord Vaea is among those pushing for a shift, arguing that the election results show it is time for noble leadership to guide the country through its next four years.

Vaea told PMN News that the nobility have better control and greater experience to manage the country compared to elected representatives from the people’s side.

“It’s time to have a noble in,” Vaea says. “Over the last four elections, PMs have had great difficulties controlling, that’s why I recommend that we go back in with the nobility.

Lord Vaea. Photo/PMN News/Ala Vailala

“We can’t afford to have people giving us money all the time, we have to start working and working foes back in with the nobilities, the hereditary states.”

Tonga’s Parliament consists of nine Noble Representatives, who are elected only by members of the nobility, while the public elects the 17 People’s Representatives.

This year, the Nobles elected newcomer, Ma’afu, who received the title of lordship last year following the death of his father in 2021.

Lord Ma'afu. Photo/PMN News

He won one of the three Noble Representative seats for Tongatapu with 12 votes, the highest amount among all candidates and replaces Lord Nuku, who was disqualified from the Noble candidates due to pending legal matters.

Ma’afu joins Vaea and Lord Tu’ivakano in the Noble Representatives for Tongatapu. Speaking with PMN News, Ma’afu says he’s still absorbing the result and thanks his village and family in Tonga for their support. “It’s more responsibility for me so I’ll try and do my best,” he says.

All other incumbents were re-elected, including Vava’u’s Lord Tu’ifafitu and Lord Tu’ilakepa, Ha’apai’s Lord Fakafanua and Lord Tu’iha’angana. Lord Ve’ehala secured a win in ‘Eua with 10 votes, while Lord Lasika received only one. Prince Kalaniuvalu Fotofili retained his uncontested seat for Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou.

Vaea welcomed Ma’afu’s entry as an important generational change for the nobility. “Ma’afu comes in with that background as well, he’s done a lot of community work and is still very young so I believe he’ll be very effective in the next four years.”

As candidates for Tonga’s People’s Representatives await their results, attention will soon shift to forming a government and whether it should be led by nobles.

“They don’t play as a team, they play as individuals and that’s why we've sagged in the last five elections,” Vaea says.

Caretake Prime Minister and People's Representative for Tongatapu 5, Dr 'Aisake Eke. Photo/PMN News/Ala Vailala

Teisa Pohiva, a lawyer and daughter of the late Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva, told PMN News that the push for nobility to lead isn’t surprising, considering the government’s bill for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to be under the King’s rule.

“It's as if slowly they're coming back for the executive powers of the country, something that we've fought for so long for the people to be given the authority to run the country, the executive powers with due consultation with the monarchy, with his majesty,” she says.

“Personally, I would urge the representatives of the people, whoever's elected into parliament, to stand together, try and put the differences aside and stand together and keep the prime minister position within the people.

“That’s the spirit, in my opinion, of the constitutional amendments in 2010.”

Listen to Teisa Pohiva's full interview below.

She referred to the democratic reforms led by her father in 2010, which resulted in an increase in the number of People’s Representatives from nine to 17 and stipulated that the Prime Minister be chosen through a vote of Parliament instead of being directly appointed by the King.

She says Tonga’s next Prime Minister must have the courage to stand for the people whenever there’s a conflict between the public, the monarchy, and the nobility.

“Not to say that I’m rebelling or trying to cause trouble, it’s just how I honestly see the shortcomings in leadership in the past couple of years. We need to keep the Prime Minister position within the people. There’s nothing more important for us but performance and accountability to the people of Tonga.”

PMN News Political Reporter 'Alakihihifo Vailala is in Nuku'alofa. PMN Coverage of Tonga Election 2025 is brought to you by the Pacific Business Trust - building strong futures, together.