A phenomenon of this year’s election campaigns is the emergence of a political grouping that involves independent candidates. Siaosi Sovaleni, Minister of Education, who seems to be assured of re-election from Tongatapu 3, is the apparent leader of this political group. He is not only campaigning for his constituency but also appearing prominently in campaigns of his friend and Cabinet colleague Tatafu Moeaki for Tongatapu 4.
Also included in this group is Poasi Tei, Minister of MEIDECC, who is another candidate almost assured of re-election for Tongatapu 6.
Both Sovaleni and Tei are Cabinet Ministers who are running for re-election as independent candidates, despite the fact they were appointed as Ministers by the Prime Minister, Rev. Dr. Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, Chairman of the PAK party.
Moeaki is a popular candidate for Tongatapu 4, but has never been elected to Parliament. He is a Cabinet Minister by appointment from outside Parliament, a provision that allows the Prime Minister the appointment of up to 4 unelected Ministers.
Moekai is the Minister of Trade and Economic Development, and the other Minister who was appointed with him from outside Parliament is Dr. ‘Amelia Tu’ipulotu, Minister of Health, who is not running in this election.
There are three other candidates who are seen to be campaigning together in this group or at least support each other. They are Dr. ‘Aisake Eke of Tongatapu 5, Tevita Puloka of Tongatapu 1, and Sangster Saulala of Tongatapu 7. All these have declared at the beginning of their candidacy that they are running independently.
But why group yourselves together while campaigning as independents?
As one insider says, “We have to be prepared so that if we are all elected, we can easily form a Government with some assistance from the nobles. We need not wait until we get in to the House. We negotiate now, and work together now to have a good team for Parliament, and for Government!”
Other independent candidates who could be a part of this group are Samiu Vaipulu of Vava’u 15, Viliami Latu of Vava’u 16, Tevita Lavemaau of ‘Eua 11, Dr. ‘Uhila-moe-Langi Fasi of Tongatapu 2, Dr. Tevita Tukunga of Tongatapu 9 (or Vika Fusimalohi of Tongatapu 9), and Fe’ao Vakata of Niua 17.
If these independent candidates are elected there will be 12 of them altogether, and they only need two nobles to join them to vote in the winning Prime Minister. But it is most unlikely that all 12 will be elected. And so, in order to form a new government it boils down to who the nine nobles will elect as Prime Minister. They will only need five independents to side with them.
The nobles stand to be the power-brokers in this election, but they will not be able to exercise that power without strong support from independents.
Memory goes back to 2014, when it seemed a sure thing that the members of Parliament would vote for Samiu Vaipulu to be Prime Minister. But when the voting day came around, the independents led by Sovaleni, moved across the political aisle and voted ‘Akilisi Pohiva in as Prime Minister. They had decided “overnight” to change their ballot. The rest is history.
The PAK party seems to have disappeared completely, as there is no one that is campaigning on their platform. Even their Chairman, Prime Minister Tu’i’onetoa does not mention PAK in any of his campaign speeches or literature. His notable Deputy Chairman for the Party, ‘Etuate Lavulavu is serving a six year prison term for fraud. The obvious conclusion is that they have been obliterated, thanks to the Lavulavu jailing.
The PTOA party founded by the late ‘Akilisi Pohiva is in tatters due to multiple splits not only among its leadership but more so among supporters. The prominent leaders of PTOA whatever the faction is, comprised of Siaosi Pohiva of Tongatapu 1, Semisi Sika of Tongatapu 2, and Mateni Tapueluelu of Tongatapu 4. All are incumbent members of Parliament, and all have the possibility of being re-elected.
But PTOA does not seem to be together enough to be a threat to a formation of a new government by the independents and the nobles. They have been their own worse enemy despite the emotional rhetoric of their campaign speeches.
There needs however to be a big enough minority among them to enter Parliament to form a strong enough opposition. While most candidates think of who would be in power, there does not seem to be too many who would put up their hand to enter Parliament to be “a voice of truth to power.”
END.