27 Jun 2012

Tonga minister says opposition bereft of reasons for planned ouster

4:47 am on 27 June 2012

Tonga's Deputy Prime Minister, Samiu Vaipulu, says the opposition cannot point to wrongdoing by the government to justify its attempts to remove it.

The Democratic Party has lodged a motion for a vote of no confidence against the government of Lord Tu'ivakano that could be heard from today.

It claims the backing of 13 of the 26 MPs able to vote on such an issue after three Cabinet Ministers resigned earlier this week.

But Mr Vaipulu says he's not concerned because the opposition can only say the change of government is what the people want.

"If there were any wrongdoings I would be concerned. But if it is just the want of power then it is up to them what they want, if they want to be Prime Minister or Ministers but to me what my concern was if we had misused any government funds or anything like that, or that sort, but so far there is nothing."

Tonga's Deputy Prime Minister, Samiu Vaipulu.