The king has officially dissolved Tongaʻs Parliament effective from yesterday August 24.
His Majesty also announced a new election for all Members of Parliament to be held no later than November 17.
Acting Attorney General ‘Aminiasi Kefu has confirmed the royal command.
It says King Tupou VI made the decision after he received an advice from the Lord Speaker.
The announcement was made on the Crown Laws website this afternoon August 25.
As Kaniva News reported earlier today, when we contacted the Prime Minister’s Office and some noble MPs for confirmation they said they were unaware of the dissolution decision.
The announcement:
WE,TUPOUVI,BYTHEGRACEOFGOD,OFTONGA,KING:
HAVING CONSIDERED Advice from the Lord Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, and
HAVING REGARD to Clauses 38 and 77(2) of The Act of Constitution of Tonga (Cap. 2) DO lawfully dissolve the Legislative Assembly with effect from Thursday24 August2017 at 1700 hours and DO Command that new Representatives of the Nobles and People be elected to enter the Legislative Assembly at Elections to be held no later than 16 November 2017.
DONE by Us at Nuku’alofa, this TwentyFourthdayofAugustinthe Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Seventeen and in this the Sixth Year of Our Reign.
Here is the link: ʻ
https://crownlaw.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/GAZETTES/2017/2017-0026/GazetteSupplementExtraordinaryNo.14of2017.pdf
Our earlier report on this topic:
The Members of Parliament were told this morning to return home as the House was closed down for the rest of this term.
The Prime Minister’s Office was unaware of any decision the King has dismissed the Prime Minister, a spokesperson from the Office told Kaniva News.
She said the Office was inquiring and would release a statement soon.
Reports on social media this afternoon cited Tangata Pasifika Correspondent John Pulu as saying the King has “dissolved” Parliament and “dismissed” Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva.
But Pulu told Kaniva News “ I am still waiting on official word from Tonga will keep you posted…”
Lord Tu’iakepa has confirmed they were told this morning to go home but when he was told it has been reported the King has dissolved the Legislative Assembly he said they have yet to receive any official statement about it.
“Ko e tala mai pe ia ke mau foki ki ‘api ‘e tapuni e Fale Alea ki he ta’u ni ko ia pe”, Tu’ilakepa said.
Translated: “We were told to go home the Parliament will be closed down for this year that’s it”.
Lord Tu’ilakepa was unaware of any decision to dismiss Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva.
A lady in Parliament said the Chief clerk and the Speaker were in a meeting.
When she was asked we wanted to talk to one of them she hung up the phone.
