Tongan Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni resigned Monday “for the good of the country and moving Tonga forward,” moments before parliament was expected to consider a no-confidence motion against his leadership.
“I’ll be resigning immediately according to the constitution,” Sovaleni announced to parliament, as reported by the Matangi Tonga news website and confirmed in an official livestream. The parliament’s Facebook page later confirmed he had “voluntarily resigned as Tonga’s Prime Minister effective today.”
King Tupou VI accepted the resignation, with parliament scheduled to reconvene December 24 to consider nominations for a new prime minister. Sovaleni will continue serving as a member of parliament.
The resignation marks the latest development in Sovaleni’s complicated relationship with Tonga’s monarchy, following his March apology over a constitutional dispute. As chairman of the Pacific Islands Forum regional bloc, his departure could have broader implications for Pacific regional politics.
REUTERS
