Tonga’s Prime Minister resigns ahead of no-confidence vote. news
The standoff with King Tupou VI has ended with the resignation of Sioux Soveleni, who said the prime minister no longer had confidence in him.
Tonga’s Prime Minister Siaosi Soveleni has abruptly resigned ahead of a planned vote of no-confidence in his leadership, ending a period of strained relations between his government and the Pacific nation’s royal family.
In cryptic comments before announcing his shock resignation on Monday, Sovleni suggested the country’s elite were “terrified” of losing their influence.
“I will resign immediately in accordance with the constitution,” Soveleni told the Legislative Assembly, according to a report by the Matangi Tonga news website and a livestream of his speech.
“I thought this land had been given freedom, but there is still slavery,” he said through tears. “I hope there comes a time when we work together.”
Soveleni, who took office in 2021, resigned on Monday afternoon before facing a no-confidence vote brought by opposition lawmakers. His leadership survived a previous no-confidence vote in September 2023.
A statement on the Tongan Parliament’s Facebook page said the Prime Minister had stepped down “for the good of the country and moving Tonga forward”.
Tonga’s hereditary nobles hold nine seats in the country’s 26-member Legislative Assembly. If they had voted as a bloc with the opposition, they would have ousted Soveleni.
Soweleni left the armed forces portfolio earlier this year after becoming angry with King Tupou VI, who said the prime minister no longer enjoyed his “confidence and consent” in the role.
Initially, the Prime Minister refused to heed the King’s request, citing legal advice that any move to remove him would be unconstitutional.
Soveleni eventually retreated in April after being forced to deny allegations of insulting the king.
Although the sovereign’s predecessor voluntarily handed over power in the 2010 democratic reforms, Tupou VI retained the powers to dissolve parliament, appoint judges and veto laws.
It was not immediately clear who would replace the Oxford-educated Solevny. Veteran politician and long-time rival ‘Aiseke AK’ is said to be one of the front-runners.
