Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni in a press conference today officially revealed he has resigned from his Defense Portfolio, and so has the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Fekita ‘Utoikamanu.
He seemed muffled as he was unable to give any details as to why he had resigned from his defense portfolio. As to who will become the new Defense Minister and the new Foreign Minister, he mumbled in Tongan that they were awaiting direction. (Kei tali ki ha tu’utu’uni)
Direction from who? If it is the Prime Minister who appoints his Ministers, according to the Constitution, then who else would he be awaiting direction from?
Publicly, the two Cabinet Ministers are seen as targets of a bullying maneuver from the Head of State King Tupou VI, who communicated his disapproval via his privy council that advises him.
A letter from the privy council on February 2 to the Prime Minister started the standoff which has now been resolved with the Prime Minister surrendering to the King’s wishes. The letter stated that the King with the advice of the privy council has withdrawn “his confidence and consent to the appointment” of the two Ministers. No reasons were given as to why the King had withdrawn his approval and consent.
Minister of Justice and Acting Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu (the Prime Minister was overseas at the time) issued a statement on 6 February stating that the decision by the King was contrary to clause 51(3)(a) of the Constitution which specifies that a minister shall retain his or her position as minister until the appointment is revoked by the King on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. A letter was later sent to the Palace Office affirming the Prime Minister’s confidence in the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The statement from the Prime Minister’s Office clearly shows there was a standoff between the office of the Head of State and that of the Executive Branch of Government. But the official public statements today from the Prime Minister can only be taken that he has surrendered to the wishes of the Monarch.
In Parliament, the political bullying continued as the nobles led by Lord Tu’ivakano urged the Prime Minister to reconcile with the King, and to resign from the Defense portfolio. The nobles who are the traditional defenders of His Majesty urged Prime Minister Sovaleni to go to Niua and apologize to the King.
The Niua trip took place in which the Prime Minister and five of his Ministers, including Foreign Minister ‘Utoikamanu, had audience with the King. No details of the meeting was released to the public but it was understood the two Ministers in question had resigned before they were approved to have audience with the King.
The lack of details concerning the King’s expressed concerns, as well as why the Prime Minister and his foreign Minister had to resign has made the situation more complex, if not complicated, in the ongoing dialogues in the kingdom.
Dr. Viliami Latu has been appointed as the Minister of Tourism, one of the portfolio’s held by Fekita ‘Utoikamanu, who is now appointed to be Minister over MEIDECC. The resignations, the new appointments, and even a pending court case do not indicate a peaceful path forward for democracy.
But, what is sure for now is that the Monarch has won the current standoff “by points”. And the Prime Minister is being questioned publicly on why he has surrendered so easily to bullying tactics, be it from the Head of State and his privy council.