In a special parliamentary session held on Christmas Eve, Tonga elected Aisake Eke as its new prime minister on Tuesday after his predecessor stepped down earlier this month, just before a no-confidence vote could take place.
Eke’s appointment comes less than a year before the island nation, with a population of about 105,000, is scheduled to conduct its next elections.
A former finance minister, Eke was selected through a secret ballot in which he received 16 votes, while Trade Minister Viliame Latu secured 8 votes. Both candidates addressed the members of parliament for around 20 minutes prior to the vote being announced in the afternoon session.
Tonga, whose economy heavily relies on tourism, has faced significant challenges in recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, escalating climate change threats, and the devastating impact of a volcanic eruption and tsunami in 2022 that severely damaged numerous beachfront areas, homes, and businesses scattered across the nation’s 171 islands.
The parliamentary structure of Tonga comprises 17 lawmakers elected by the populace, alongside nine nobles elected by hereditary chiefs, though two members were unable to participate in this voting session.
The resignation of Siaosi Sovaleni, Eke’s predecessor, marked a tumultuous period characterized by strained relationships between his administration and Tonga’s monarchy. Eke had called for the no-confidence vote against Sovaleni late last month and will take the oath of office at the upcoming parliamentary meeting in February.
Since emerging on the political landscape in 2010, Eke has held several prominent roles, though he lost his parliamentary position in 2017. During his tenure as finance minister, he collaborated on various financial reform initiatives through his work with the World Bank in Washington.
After reclaiming his parliamentary seat in 2021, Eke was also a candidate for the role of prime minister but was not successful against Sovaleni then.
Sovaleni’s time in office faced challenges, particularly due to intermittent conflicts between the monarchy and elected officials within Tonga’s developing democracy, especially after constitutional reforms in 2010 that aimed to shift power from the royals and nobles to the general electorate.
His administration’s relations with the reigning monarch, King Tupou VI, were also strained, with the king retaining significant powers that include the dissolution of parliament, judge appointments, and law vetoes.
According to Riley Duke, a Pacific analyst at the Lowy Institute, Sovaleni’s resignation is indicative of a rift with the monarchy, illuminating the weaknesses in the current constitution that may benefit from reform. Duke noted the complexities of Tonga’s political situation, particularly due to the monarchy’s popularity, and emphasized that Eke’s primary challenges will likely involve navigating the unclear separation of powers and managing royal interferences in parliamentary affairs.
Additionally, in September, Tonga secured the hosting rights for the 2031 Pacific Games, an important multi-sport event held every four years for athletes from Oceania, bouncing back from a controversial decision to withdraw from hosting in 2019.