WELLINGTON, New Zealand — On Monday, Tonga’s Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni announced his resignation during a parliamentary session just prior to a scheduled no-confidence vote regarding his leadership. This sudden decision occurred within a climate of tension between his administration and the Tongan monarchy.
Sovaleni, who assumed office in 2021, did not provide specific reasons for his exit, but his resignation effectively preempted the no-confidence motion that was set to occur. It remains uncertain who will take over his position.
The timing of his resignation is particularly significant as it occurs less than a year before national elections in Tonga, a South Pacific nation home to approximately 105,000 residents. His departure also underscores the ongoing challenges within the country’s democracy, which has only begun to evolve following reforms in 2010 that shifted some traditional powers from the monarchy and nobility to the general populace.
A post on the Tongan Parliament’s Facebook page reported Sovaleni’s decision to step down as being “for the good of the country and moving Tonga forward.” Footage from the parliamentary session displayed the prime minister delivering brief and emotional remarks in Tongan before the no-confidence vote was expected to start.
As of the announcement, Sovaleni’s office had not responded to requests for further insight. Notably, Sovaleni had previously weathered a no-confidence vote in September 2023.
In the months leading up to his resignation, Sovaleni’s time in office was characterized by strained relations with King Tupou VI. While the previous king willingly relinquished some authority during the 2010 democratic reforms, Tupou VI still holds the power to dissolve parliament, appoint judges, and veto legislation.
At times, the king’s dissatisfaction with Sovaleni was evident, notably when he withdrew his support for Sovaleni as defense minister in February. This prompted some lawmakers to criticize the king’s influence on Sovaleni and his foreign minister, labeling it as unconstitutional. However, both the foreign minister and Sovaleni ultimately resigned from their positions in April, with Sovaleni managing to maintain his title as prime minister.
A month prior to his exit, Sovaleni participated in a traditional apology ceremony directed at the king, with little subsequent discussion from either party regarding the event. Furthermore, when Tonga hosted the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in August, the king’s absence, due to international travel, was seen as a disrespectful slight against Sovaleni and his administration during a crucial diplomatic occasion.
In an interview with Radio New Zealand following his resignation, Sovaleni did not hint at any specific motivations for his decision. When questioned if his choice stemmed from conflicts with the king, he acknowledged that “differences in views” are commonplace. He expressed uncertainty about the factors leading to the withdrawal of confidence from both him and Tonga’s foreign minister earlier in the year.
“But we still provide respect to his majesty,” Sovaleni remarked, indicating the importance of their relationship. He suggested that inquiries would be better directed to others regarding the motives behind his resignation.
Following Sovaleni’s departure, Tonga’s 26 lawmakers will work together to select his replacement. The parliament consists of 17 members chosen by the public and nine nominated nobles who are elected by hereditary chiefs.
Sovaleni had entered parliament in 2014 and held ministerial positions since 2019. He led Tonga through significant challenges as the country sought to recover from the coronavirus pandemic, rising threats from climate change, and the severe impact of the 2022 volcanic eruption and tsunami, which devastated various areas across Tonga’s 171 islands.
A seasoned public servant, Sovaleni also had experience in the private sector before entering politics. He is the son of a former deputy prime minister of Tonga and received his high school education in New Zealand. He furthered his studies at both the University of Oxford and the University of the South Pacific, where he earned master’s degrees in computer science and business.
