Ten members of Parliament have signed a letter as a motion for a Vote Of No Confidence (VONC) in the Prime Minister, Hu’akavameiliku. The motion was filed in Parliament on Tuesday 22 August. The Prime Minister is yet to respond.
Piveni Piukala, one of the signatories, have said publicly that much of the accusations against the Prime Minister has to do with financial management, and with the budget in particular. He said that in the previous budget the government’s traveling allowance was budgeted at TOP$13 million, but grew to TOP$21 million in the current budget.
He claimed this was unlawful because the law says the government could only increase an expenditure such as travel by 10%, which would have been an increase of TOP$1.3 million. Instead the government increased it by TOP$8 million.
Parliamentary rules provide for within 14 days for the VONC to be tabled in Parliament.
It has been revealed that Dr. ‘Aisake Eke of Tongatapu 5, drafted the motion, and signed by Dr. ‘Uhilamoelangi Fasi of TT2; Mateni Tapueluelu of TT4; Paula Piveni Piukala of TT7; Kapelieli Lanumata of TT10; Dr. Taniela Fusimalohi of TT11; Mo’ale Finau of TT12; and Vatau Hui of Niua 17. These are eight members from the People’s Representatives.
There are also two from the Nobles Representatives that make up the ten petitioners; they are Lord Tu’ivakano and Lord Nuku.
House Rules require that 10 or more members must sign the motion before it is tabled. It is also required that a Motion of VONC can only be filed after 18 months of a Prime Minister in Office. The Prime Minister has been in office for 20 months.
Now that the motion has been filed both sides of the VONC are campaigning within Parliament for votes, for in the end it is an issue of numbers. The side that launched the VONC needs 4 more votes to win, and thus dislodge the Prime Minister, and consequently his Cabinet.
It is interesting that two nobles have split from the other noble members to join the opposition. Usually, the nobles stand together for any issue of significance that comes up in the House.
A source who did not want to be named, and who was one of the motion signatories, told Talanoa ‘o Tonga News, that there is the likelihood of two peoples’ reps and two nobles’ reps joining their group, guaranteeing a victory.
There has never been a successful VONC since the first government after the 2010 reform. In fact each of the four Prime Ministers since 2010 faced VONC but successfully defeated the motions. The Prime Ministers were Lord Tu’ivakano (2010), ‘Akilisi Pohiva (2014), Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa (2019), and Hu’akavameiliku (2021).
