Kalafi Moala
Hu’akavameiliku – Siaosi Sovaleni – aged 51, has been appointed by His Majesty King Tupou VI as the 18th Prime Minister of Tonga. The appointment executed today (Tuesday 28th December) was dated from Monday the 27th December.
The new Prime Minister was re-elected as People’s Representative of Tongatapu 3 in the general elections on 18th November, with 83.9% of voters, the highest of any candidate throughout Tonga.
He was elected as Prime Minister Designate on December 15th by a majority in Parliament of 16 to 11 over his rival candidate, Dr. ‘Aisake Eke.
He has been the Minister of Education and Training in the outgoing government, and a Deputy Prime Minister in the previous Government.
Hu’akavameiliku is the first independent (not associated with any political party) to become Prime Minister since the 2010 reform.
He was accompanied by his wife, Fiona, and their four children at the Appointment Ceremony at the Palace in Nuku’alofa.
It is expected that Hu’akavameiliku will announce his Cabinet on Wednesday 29th December.
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