In Tonga, a government bent on reform may have pushed too hard

The speaker of Tonga's parliament says government efforts to concentrate power in cabinet drove him to seek the King's intervention to dissolve parliament.

In a statement, Lord Tu'ivakano said a new bill tabled last week sought to supplant the Privy Council with cabinet for appointing positions like the police commissioner and attorney general.

He said the government's actions were a clear attempt to erode the powers of the King and Privy Council.

The Tongan academic Malakai Koloamatangi told Jamie Tahana the new bill suggests a government bent on reform may have pushed too hard.