The Legislative Assembly of Tonga has received its first written nomination for the role of Prime Minister Designate, the Office of the Lord Tangi ‘o Vaonukonuka announced yesterday. The nomination marks the formal start of the process to elect a new leader following November’s general election.
Under the Act of Constitution of Tonga (Clause 50A), all elected representatives were invited to submit nominations by 4:30 pm on Friday, 12 December. Details of the nominee will be revealed only at the assembly meeting convened for the selection of the Prime Minister Designate.
The meeting of the full 26-member parliament, composed of 17 People’s Representatives and nine Nobles’ Representatives, is scheduled for Monday, 15 December. There, MPs will vote by secret ballot. A candidate must secure a majority. If no one wins a majority, the nominee with the fewest votes will be eliminated and another round held.
The new Prime Minister Designate, once chosen, will be submitted to His Majesty the King for formal appointment. The Assembly will also elect its Speaker and Deputy Speaker for the 2025-2029 parliamentary term.
With only one nomination in hand so far, attention now turns to who else may enter the race before the 12 December deadline and how MPs will exercise their judgment in shaping the next government of Tonga.
