Pacific / Tonga

Petition to impeach Tonga PM and ministers due Friday

11:05 am on 22 May 2018

A petition in Tonga to impeach seven cabinet ministers, including the Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva, is expected to be submitted to the King and Parliament on Friday.

The petition calls for the impeachment of 'Akilisi Pohiva Photo: RNZ Pacific / Koro Vaka'uta

The Secretary-General of the Public Service Association, Mele 'Amanaki, said a six member committee, including herself, organised the petition.

Ms 'Amanaki, was a candidate in the last two general elections.

Matangi Tonga reported the petition had been posted online for in an effort to gather more signatures.

The call for impeachment was for 'Akilisi Pohiva and six of his ministers, namely Semisi Sika, Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, Penisimani Fifita, Mateni Tapueluelu, Vuna Fa'otusia and Tu'i Uata.

The petition stated that the King and the Tongan people both home and abroad, had put their trust in them to run the country responsibly for the betterment of all but it claimed they had misused their power.

The impeachment alleged that the seven ministers had breached the Constitution, other legislation and parliament regulations and stated they were therefore not trustworthy to govern.

The petition also seeks to postpone parliament's deliberation of the new 2018-19 budget, so that an audit can be conducted.

Mele 'Amanaki is one of six organisers of the petition Photo: facebook