Prime Minister of Tonga

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 the
Kingdom of Tonga
Palemia ʻo Tonga (Tongan)
Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Tonga
Flag of Tonga
Incumbent
Siaosi Sovaleni
since 27 December 2021
StyleThe Honourable
StatusHead of government
AbbreviationPM
Member of
SeatNuku’alofa
AppointerKing of Tonga
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Tonga
Inaugural holderTēvita ʻUnga (Premier)
Fatafehi Tuʻipelehake (Prime Minister)
Formation1876 (Premier)
1970 (Prime Minister)
DeputyDeputy Prime Minister of Tonga
SalaryT$ 94,500/US$ 40,212 annually[1]
Websitehttps://pmo.gov.to/
Politics of Tonga
Constitution
Monarchy
Executive
Legislative
Judiciary
Elections
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations
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.

2000s democratization

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)
No. Portrait NameTook officeLeft officeTime in officePartyMonarch
1
Tēvita ʻUnga
Unga, TēvitaCrown Prince
Tēvita ʻUnga
(c. 1824–1879)		1 January 187618 December 1879 †3 years, 351 daysIndependentGeorge Tupou I
Vacant (18 December 1879 – April 1881)
2
Shirley Waldemar Baker
Baker, Shirley WaldemarRev.
Shirley Waldemar Baker
(1836–1903)		April 1881July 18909 years, 3 monthsIndependentGeorge Tupou I
3
Siaosi Tukuʻaho
Tukuʻaho, SiaosiSiaosi Tukuʻaho
(1854–1897)		July 189018932–3 yearsIndependentGeorge Tupou I
4
Siosateki Veikune
Veikune, SiosatekiSiosateki Veikune
(1853–1913)		1893January 190511–12 yearsIndependentGeorge Tupou II
5
Siaosi Tuʻi Pelehake
Pelehake, Siaosi TuʻiSiaosi Tuʻi Pelehake
(1842–1912)		January 1905January 19050 monthsIndependentGeorge Tupou II
6
Sione Tupou Mateialona
Mateialona, Sione TupouSione Tupou Mateialona
(1852–1925)		January 190530 September 19127 years, 7 monthsIndependentGeorge Tupou II
7
Tevita Tuʻivakano
Tuʻivakano, TevitaTevita Tuʻivakano
(1869–1923)		30 September 191230 June 192310 years, 304 daysIndependentGeorge Tupou II
Sālote Tupou III
8
Viliami Tungī Mailefihi CBE
Mailefihi, Viliami TungīPrince
Viliami Tungī Mailefihi CBE
(1887–1941)		30 June 192320 July 194118 years, 20 daysIndependentSālote Tupou III
9
Solomone Ula Ata OBE
Ata, Solomone UlaSolomone Ula Ata OBE
(1883–1950)		20 July 194112 December 19498 years, 145 daysIndependentSālote Tupou III
10
Tupoutoʻa Tungī KBE
Tungi, Tupouto'aCrown Prince
Tupoutoʻa Tungī KBE
(1918–2006)
[lower-alpha 1]		12 December 194916 December 196516 years, 4 daysIndependentSālote Tupou III
11
Fatafehi Tuʻipelehake CBE
Tuʻipelehake, FatafehiPrince
Fatafehi Tuʻipelehake CBE
(1922–1999)		16 December 196522 August 199125 years, 249 daysIndependentTāufaʻāhau Tupou IV
12
Baron Vaea
Tupou, SiaosiBaron Vaea
(1921–2009)		22 August 19913 January 20008 years, 134 daysIndependentTāufaʻāhau Tupou IV
13
ʻAhoʻeitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho
Tukuʻaho, AhoʻeituPrince
ʻAhoʻeitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho
(born 1959)
[lower-alpha 2]		3 January 200011 February 20066 years, 39 daysIndependentTāufaʻāhau Tupou IV
14
Lord Sevele of Vailahi
Sevele, FeletiLord Sevele of Vailahi
(born 1944)		30 March 200622 December 20104 years, 314 daysHRDMTāufaʻāhau Tupou IV
George Tupou V
15
Lord Tuʻivakanō
Tuʻivakanō, SialeʻataongoLord Tuʻivakanō
(born 1952)		22 December 201030 December 20144 years, 8 daysIndependentGeorge Tupou V
Tupou VI
16
ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
Pōhiva, AkilisiʻAkilisi Pōhiva
(1941–2019)		30 December 201412 September 2019 †4 years, 256 daysDPFITupou VI
—
Semisi Sika
Sika, SemisiSemisi Sika
(born 1968)
Acting		12 September 20198 October 201926 daysDPFITupou VI
17
Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa
Tuionetoa, PohivaPōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa
(1951–2023)		8 October 201927 December 20212 years, 80 daysTPPITupou VI
18
Siaosi Sovaleni
Sovaleni, SiaosiSiaosi Sovaleni
(born 1970)		27 December 2021Incumbent1 year, 303 daysIndependentTupou VI

Timeline
Siaosi SovaleniPōhiva TuʻiʻonetoaSemisi SikaʻAkilisi PōhivaSialeʻataongo TuʻivakanōFeleti SeveleTupou VIBaron VaeaFatafehi TuʻipelehakeTāufaʻāhau Tupou IVSolomone Ula AtaViliami Tungī MailefihiTevita TuʻivakanoSione Tupou MateialonaSiaosi Tuʻi PelehakeSiosateki VeikuneSiaosi TukuʻahoShirley Waldemar BakerTēvita ʻUnga

See also

Notes
  1. Later King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV.
  2. Later King Tupou VI.

References
  1. "New Public Service Remuneration Structure Approved by the Government of Tonga". www.mic.gov.to.
  2. "The Executive government ", Tonga government
  3. "King Tupou VI appoints new Prime Minister". Matangi Tonga. 28 December 2021. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  4. "Emotional, Siaosi Sovaleni elected PM Designate". Matangi Tonga. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  5. "MPs choose Siaosi Sovaleni as new prime minister". Kaniva Tonga. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  6. "Two nominees for PM Designate revealed, meeting underway". Matangi Tonga. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  7. Constitution of Tonga Archived 19 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  8. "Tonga gets first elected leader", BBC, 13 February 2006
  9. "Tonga's king to cede key powers", BBC, 29 July 2008
  10. "Tongan king promises 'more democracy' for Pacific island", The Guardian, 29 July 2008
  11. "King of Tonga prepares to give up power", The Telegraph, 11 July 2010
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