The prime minister of Tonga (historically referred to as the premier) is the country's head of government. Tonga is a monarchy with the king, currently Tupou VI, former prime minister, as head of state.[2] The current prime minister is Siaosi Sovaleni, who was elected on 15 December 2021 and appointed on 27 December 2021.[3] Sovaleni was elected with 16 votes.[4][5][6]
The office of prime minister was established by the Constitution of 1875, whose article 51 stipulates that the prime minister and other ministers are appointed and dismissed by the king.[7]
During the 2000s, the country experienced an increase in democratization. In March 2006, King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV appointed Feleti Sevele, a moderate member of the Human Rights and Democracy Movement, as prime minister. Sevele was the first commoner to hold this post since Shirley Waldemar Baker in 1881. All the prime ministers since Baker had been members of the nobility, or even the royal family.[8]
In July 2008, King George Tupou V announced more substantial democratic reforms. He would abandon the essential part of his executive powers, and would henceforth follow the custom of monarchies such as the United Kingdom, exercising his prerogatives only with the prime minister's advice. In addition, he would no longer appoint the prime minister anyone he wished, but would appoint a member of the Legislative Assembly to be elected by the Legislative Assembly.[9][10][11]
List of premiers/prime ministers of Tonga (1876–present)
prime, minister, tonga, prime, minister, tonga, historically, referred, premier, country, head, government, tonga, monarchy, with, king, currently, tupou, former, prime, minister, head, state, current, prime, minister, siaosi, sovaleni, elected, december, 2021. The prime minister of Tonga historically referred to as the premier is the country s head of government Tonga is a monarchy with the king currently Tupou VI former prime minister as head of state 2 The current prime minister is Siaosi Sovaleni who was elected on 15 December 2021 and appointed on 27 December 2021 3 Sovaleni was elected with 16 votes 4 5 6 Prime Minister of theKingdom of TongaCoat of arms of the Kingdom of TongaFlag of TongaIncumbentSiaosi Sovalenisince 27 December 2021StyleThe HonourableStatusHead of governmentAbbreviationPMMember ofCabinet of TongaLegislative Assembly of TongaSeatNuku alofaAppointerKing of TongaConstituting instrumentConstitution of TongaInaugural holderTevita ʻUnga Premier Fatafehi Tuʻipelehake Prime Minister Formation1876 Premier 1970 Prime Minister DeputyDeputy Prime Minister of TongaSalaryT 94 500 annually 1 Websitehttps pmo gov to Prime Minister s Office in Nuku alofa The office of prime minister was established by the Constitution of 1875 whose article 51 stipulates that the prime minister and other ministers are appointed and dismissed by the king 7 The prime minister is assisted by the deputy prime minister Contents 1 2000s democratization 2 List of premiers prime ministers of Tonga 1876 present 3 Timeline 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External links2000s democratization EditDuring the 2000s the country experienced an increase in democratization In March 2006 King Taufaʻahau Tupou IV appointed Feleti Sevele a moderate member of the Human Rights and Democracy Movement as prime minister Sevele was the first commoner to hold this post since Shirley Waldemar Baker in 1881 All the prime ministers since Baker had been members of the nobility or even the royal family 8 In July 2008 King George Tupou V announced more substantial democratic reforms He would abandon the essential part of his executive powers and would henceforth follow the custom of monarchies such as the United Kingdom exercising his prerogatives only with the prime minister s advice In addition he would no longer appoint the prime minister anyone he wished but would appoint a member of the Legislative Assembly to be elected by the Legislative Assembly 9 10 11 List of premiers prime ministers of Tonga 1876 present EditNo Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office Party Monarch1 Unga Tevita Crown PrinceTevita ʻUnga c 1824 1879 1 January 187618 December 1879 3 years 351 daysIndependentGeorge Tupou IVacant 18 December 1879 April 1881 2 Baker Shirley Waldemar Rev Shirley Waldemar Baker 1836 1903 April 1881July 18909 years 3 monthsIndependentGeorge Tupou I3 Tukuʻaho Siaosi Siaosi Tukuʻaho 1854 1897 July 189018932 3 yearsIndependentGeorge Tupou I4 Veikune Siosateki Siosateki Veikune 1853 1913 1893January 190511 12 yearsIndependentGeorge Tupou II5 Pelehake Siaosi Tuʻi Siaosi Tuʻi Pelehake 1842 1912 January 1905January 19050 monthsIndependentGeorge Tupou II6 Mateialona Sione Tupou Sione Tupou Mateialona 1852 1925 January 190530 September 19127 years 7 monthsIndependentGeorge Tupou II7 Tuʻivakano Tevita Tevita Tuʻivakano 1869 1923 30 September 191230 June 192310 years 304 daysIndependentGeorge Tupou IISalote Tupou III8 Mailefihi Viliami Tungi PrinceViliami Tungi Mailefihi CBE 1887 1941 30 June 192320 July 194118 years 20 daysIndependentSalote Tupou III9 Ata Solomone Ula Solomone Ula Ata OBE 1883 1950 20 July 194112 December 19498 years 145 daysIndependentSalote Tupou III10 Tungi Tupouto a Crown PrinceTupoutoʻa Tungi KBE 1918 2006 a 12 December 194916 December 196516 years 4 daysIndependentSalote Tupou III11 Tuʻipelehake Fatafehi PrinceFatafehi Tuʻipelehake CBE 1922 1999 16 December 196522 August 199125 years 249 daysIndependentTaufaʻahau Tupou IV12 Tupou Siaosi Baron Vaea 1921 2009 22 August 19913 January 20008 years 134 daysIndependentTaufaʻahau Tupou IV13 Tukuʻaho Ahoʻeitu PrinceʻAhoʻeitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho born 1959 b 3 January 200011 February 20066 years 39 daysIndependentTaufaʻahau Tupou IV14 Sevele Feleti Lord Sevele of Vailahi born 1944 30 March 200622 December 20104 years 314 daysHRDMTaufaʻahau Tupou IVGeorge Tupou V15 Tuʻivakanō Sialeʻataongo Lord Tuʻivakanō born 1952 22 December 201030 December 20144 years 8 daysIndependentGeorge Tupou VTupou VI16 Pōhiva Akilisi ʻAkilisi Pōhiva 1941 2019 30 December 201412 September 2019 4 years 256 daysDPFITupou VI Sika Semisi Semisi Sika born 1968 Acting12 September 20198 October 201926 daysDPFITupou VI17 Tuionetoa Pohiva Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa born 1951 8 October 201927 December 20212 years 80 daysTPPITupou VI18 Sovaleni Siaosi Siaosi Sovaleni born 1970 27 December 2021Incumbent1 year 10 daysIndependentTupou VITimeline EditSee also EditTonga Politics of Tonga List of monarchs of Tonga Lists of office holdersNotes Edit Later King Taufa ahau Tupou IV Later King Tupou VI References Edit New Public Service Remuneration Structure Approved by the Government of Tonga www mic gov to The Executive government Tonga government King Tupou VI appoints new Prime Minister Matangi Tonga 28 December 2021 Archived from the original on 28 December 2021 Retrieved 28 December 2021 Emotional Siaosi Sovaleni elected PM Designate Matangi Tonga 15 December 2021 Retrieved 15 December 2021 MPs choose Siaosi Sovaleni as new prime minister Kaniva Tonga 15 December 2021 Retrieved 15 December 2021 Two nominees for PM Designate revealed meeting underway Matangi Tonga 15 December 2021 Retrieved 15 December 2021 Constitution of Tonga Archived 19 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine Tonga gets first elected leader BBC 13 February 2006 Tonga s king to cede key powers BBC 29 July 2008 Tongan king promises more democracy for Pacific island The Guardian 29 July 2008 King of Tonga prepares to give up power The Telegraph 11 July 2010External links EditPrime Minister of Tonga at World Statesman Encyclopedia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Prime Minister of Tonga amp oldid 1124616453, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
