Dr. ‘Aisake Valu Eke has been elected as Tonga’s new Prime Minister, succeeding Siaosi Sovaleni, who resigned earlier this month.
The Lord Speaker announced the two nominees, Dr. Eke and Dr. Viliami Uasike Latu, during a special session of the Legislative Assembly held today.
The elected representatives participated in a secret ballot to determine the new leader then confirmed by His Majesty.
Eke won with 16 votes in his favour from among the 24 MPs eligible to vote.
Eke, who filed a motion of no confidence against Sovaleni late last month, had the backing of the nobles bloc to take this majority win.
The new prime minister will lead the government into the next general elections scheduled for November 2025.
Eke, a former Minister of Finance, is expected to address the nation’s economic challenges and strengthen international relations.
The official swearing-in ceremony is yet to be confirmed.