3 Dec 2010

Tonga Democratic Party to hold public rally amid political lobbying

7:03 am on 3 December 2010

Tonga's Friendly Islands Democratic Party is planning a public rally for today to bring some transparency to the ongoing negotiations over the formation of a new government.

The party which, with 12 of the 26 seats, won the bulk of the constituencies in last week's historic election, is not assured of support of the other five popularly elected MPs.

However the nine nobles are considering their own grouping and could join forces with the five independents.

Our correspondent, Mateni Tapueluelu, says some of the five independents appear to be moving away from the people and towards the nobility.

"It is my understanding that a rally as well as a radio programme is planned for tomorrow by the People's Representatives and Akilisi Pohiva's Friendly Islands Democratic Party in perhaps an attempt to throw back the question to people and invite voters to pressure their patricular representatives to move together with Akilisi's party and form a government."