19 Dec 2017

Tonga's Pohiva aiming for more of the same - Moala

12:12 pm on 19 December 2017

A Tongan commentator and publisher Kalafi Moala believes it will be more of the same from the re-elected prime minister 'Akilisi Pohiva.

Publisher and commentator, Kalafi Moala

Publisher and commentator, Kalafi Moala Photo: supplied

Mr Pohiva, who was effectively sacked by the King back in August, has returned as leader for a second term.

Mr Pohiva's Democratic Party had won 14 of the 17 Peoples' Representatives seats in the election on 16 November and he won his prime ministerial election on Monday in parliament by the same amount.

The other contender, former deputy prime minister Siaosi Sovaleni, got 12.

Mr Moala said during the election Mr Pohiva was seeking a second chance.

"He's basically saying 'we are going to get back in and finish what we have started' and, of course ,what they have started is a big question mark because the last three years have been full of all kinds of scandals and all kinds of issues that actually resulted in the dissolution of parliament," he said.

"But let's see what happens in the next four years."

  • Pohiva retains Tonga prime ministership
  • Voting for PM concludes in Tonga
  • Tongan MPs to vote for PM on Monday
  • Lord Tangi to oversee election of Tonga's PM