2 Aug 2012

More delays for Tonga's first attempt at holding no confidence vote

6:31 pm on 2 August 2012

It will be late August before the Tonga opposition can push for a vote of no confidence in the government of prime minister, Lord Tu'ivakano.

Parliament has now been adjourned for nearly 3 weeks, until August the 20th, to allow for various ministers to meet planned overseas travel commitments.

This includes a trip to Israel by Lord Tu'ivakano.

The opposition Democratic Party asserts the government has lost the backing of the people - a claim the prime minister dismissed in a letter he read to parliament over a week and a half.

Meanwhile the nobles today chose a new MP to replace Lord Lasike who was barred from parliament after being convicted of a criminal offence.

The new MP, Lord Nuku, is in fact a veteran, having served in Cabinet under former prime minister, Lord Feleti Sevele.