Transcript
TEVITA MOTULALO: These are for the House to vote on and the members are fully aware of the ins and outs of government and the nitty gritty around it so how damaging? We will probably find out on the day that they vote.
KORO VAKA'UTA: Any of these claims, if you like, that kind of stand out in terms of something that parliamentarians hold dearly?
TM: It's not just parliamentarians on that matter but the general public also there was a lot of hope and a lot of confidence in the current leadership to take all the promises made for the last 30 years and the transition to democracy to make life easier for Tongans. But it is ready hard to tell because the platform that the Prime Minister launched when he was campaigning, was on good governance and opposing corruption or eradicating corruption if you like. So those are the key things that stand out as, in a way, a betrayal of that hope. A majority of the points laid out in the motion is about nepotism and it's about avoiding the rules that we have agreed to use.
KV: This is only the second time that this has happened, is this being followed keenly? Are people aware of the ins and outs of what is happening in parliament?
TM: Most of the issues raised in the motion have been publicised throughout the whole time and have been raised over and over in parliament but I think there was not adequate response or justification to these controversial decisions and the public is indeed following it. These sort of discussions don't really add confidence, the more it drags and the longer it drags. It eats away at morale and it doesn't help.
KV: The last time this happened was in 2012 and ironically enough it was Mr Pohiva that led that one, apart from that, what seems to be the differences between that vote of no confidence and this one we have now?
TM: Other than the turn of the tables, one obvious aspect of this is it is much more streamlined so it means the system is working and as much as they have differences they are able to adapt. It is faster now. Compared to the previous times they launched the no confidence motion, it dragged on for months, for weeks. The responses weren't ready and the motion itself wasn't clear but I think people are adapting, especially parliamentarians. The rules have changed also so it is much easier and a lot less obstructive of government. The previous time it almost shut down government because it dragged too long and the level of uncertainty just grew day by day.
KV: This is quite a new mechanism in terms of Tongan history, are people liking it, that his is available for parliamentarians?
TM: Whether they like it or not is another matter but I think people are adapting to that reality and they do accept that government must have, at some point, a challenge to its credibility throughout its term, not necessarily leave it for a long four year term unchallenged.
