King Tupou VI has officially appointed Dr. ‘Aisake Valu Eke as Tonga’s Prime Minister during a ceremony at the Nuku’alofa Royal Palace this morning.
Eke replaces former Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku, who unexpectedly resigned last month.
The King’s appointment follows Eke’s election by Parliament in December. His Majesty, returning from overseas last weekend, formalized the assignment today.
Cabinet Minister appointments are expected likely tomorrow.
Dr. Eke holds a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Administration from the University of Southern Queensland, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Monash University in Australia, and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Accounting and Economics from the University of the South Pacific in Fiji.
He is also a member of the Chartered Public Accountants (CPA) of the Australian Society of Accountants.
He served over a decade as CEO of the Ministry of Finance and National Planning before entering Parliament in 2010 as an independent candidate, following Tonga’s democratic reforms.
Notably, Eke aligned with the late Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva, founder of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands, advocating for social and economic equality.

In 2014, Eke became Minister of Finance under Pohiva’s government but resigned in 2017 following a parliamentary no-confidence motion, subsequently losing his seat.
Known for his principled stance, Eke opposed excessive parliamentary allowances in 2011, emphasizing economic prudence.
Dr. Eke was born on September 26, 1960, in the village of Vaotu’u in the western district of Tongatapu. He is married to Lusitania Latu Eke, and they have two children.
His appointment as Prime Minister marks yet another chapter in Tonga’s political landscape.