Tonga Prime Minister, Hu'akavameiliku in Nuku'alofa. 25 August 2024 Photo: RNZ Pacific / Lydia Lewis
Tongan Prime Minister Hu'akavameliku Siaosi Sovaleni is facing a second vote of no confidence next week.
The prime minister has pointed out that this is happening just 11 months before the next election, which would leave a new government little time to do anything before parliament is dissolved ahead of the poll.
The vote was instigated by 'Aisake Eke, who also initiated a similar motion last year.
Hu'akavameliku easily defeated the previous vote.
In a statement to local media, he said it would make more sense "if there are any shortcomings in how we have been doing our work, that the opposition comes and talks to us, so we can work toward addressing it, because the timeframe is very limited."
Tonga no confidence motion 'par for the course'- Kalafi Moala
The prime minister has also suggested the vote of no confidence is not being used as the framers of the Kingdom's constitution intended.
"The intention when the law was established was for specific reasons, but when it is applied, the reality may differ. This provides us an opportunity to examine it and ask whether this was the reason we established the law.
"Having said that, as I mentioned before, I respect it because there is a provision in the law that allows it," he said.
However, 'Aisake Eke said there are serious issues driving the push to remove the government.
The motion has the backing of ten MPs so far, but Eke said he is confident he can secure the additional four to give them a majority of the 26 MPs in the legislature.
He said government spending was a factor in bringing forward the motion, but he cannot elaborate before the parliament sits next Tuesday.
"But I think the way the government is going there are a few things that seriously concern us. That's why we have submitted this motion. There are several grounds but I cannot reveal them to you until this action is read out in the House next Tuesday.
"The government is a very important thing and therefore there should be a serious issue prompting us to do this, so that's why we have to put forward this motion," he said.
RNZ Pacific's Tonga correspondent, Kalafi Moala, said this motion is par for the course for a modern Tongan opposition.
He agreed with the prime minister that the timing of the motion is off, and he said it is bound to fail.
Moala said if a new government came to power they would have to be engaged in developing a new Budget but would have little time to progress it ahead of the next election.
"Which means they will have to be very engaged in getting the new budget approved before June of next year.
"If it is approved they only have two months to be in government to wlork on that budget, because parliament will recess for three months before the election."