Pohiva asks date for vote of no confidence motion as Lord Vaea remains silent

Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva has asked the House to schedule a vote of no confidence against him.

Hon. Pōhiva said he wanted to make sure the vote did not clash with his upcoming meetings planned for overseas.

The Leader of the Opposition, Lord Vaea, told Kaniva News two weeks ago that the opposition would submit a vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister.

However, when Hon. Pōhiva asked for a date for the vote this week, Lord Vaea did not say anything.

The Prime Minister said news of the vote of no confidence motion had been released by the media and Tongans overseas and in Tonga were following it up.

He said he was scheduled to travel to Sweden next week and on his return he would again leave the country for the Pacific Island Forum.

He was supposed to attend many meetings overseas, but had opted to not attend some of them.

Hon. Pohiva told the House he wanted to know if it was possible to set a date for the vote on the House’s agenda.

This Tuesday, August 16, the Speaker of the House told the Prime Minister he had yet to receive the motion for a vote of no confidence, but if he received it he would put it on the Parliamentary agenda.

Lord Vaea, who was declared leader of the opposition by the Prime Minister in New Zealand during his recent state visit, confirmed to Kaniva News they would  work on a motion of vote of no confidence when the House resumed this week.

Response

While the Prime Minister was in New Zealand two weeks ago, his supporters raised their concerns about a revelation by Lord Vaea on Kaniva News’ weekly radio programme that the opposition would submit a vote of no confidence against him.

His supporters wanted Hon. Pohiva to respond to some of Lord Vaea’s claims.

The Prime Minister said it was difficult for him to reply because he had not seen a copy of the motion.

He told the meeting in Auckland that the motion was constitutional. Votes of no confidence were made to ensure governments could be voted out if it failed in its responsibility to the country.

It was clear from those who spoke during the meeting many still supported Pohiva’s government.

Many said the nobles had been leading the government for years and the level of corruption regularly reported by the media was a great concern.

Some who had listened to Lord Vaea’s radio  interview about the vote of no confidence said the nobles appeared to have nothing new to offer  if they took over the government.

The main points

  • Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has asked the House to schedule a vote of no confidence against him.
  • Pohiva said he wanted to make sure the vote did not clash with his upcoming meetings planned for overseas.
  • The Leader of the Opposition, Lord Vaea, told Kaniva News two weeks ago that the opposition would submit a vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister.
  • However, when Hon. Pohiva asked for a date for the vote this week, Lord Vaea did not say anything.

For more information

Noble MPs vow to topple government with no confidence motion when Parliament resumes

 

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