Former Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni and former Minister of Finance Tēvita Lavemaau have denied Hon. Pōhiva’s claims they had been involved in an alleged plot to dissolve Parliament.
The dissolution last month has ended a four-year parliamentary terms for Hon. Pōhiva and his government ministers which was scheduled to be followed by a general election in November 2018.
Sovaleni told media yesterday in Nukuʻalofa he had never involved in any attempts to dissolve Parliament.
“There is absolutely no truth to that rumour,” Sovaleni said.
“I always committed the best of my abilities, dedication and loyalty to the Kingdom and to serving the people,” he said.
“At all times, I expressed my honest views and beliefs to assist and support the leadership of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.”
Lavemaau reportedly said on Facebook he never knew anything about the Speaker Lord Tuʻivakanōʻs plan to advise King Tupou to dissolve Parliament.
Both Lavemaau and Sovaleni thanked the Prime Minister for the opportunities he had given them to work with him since 2014.
Hon. Pohiva told media he had dismissed the ministers after he received information they knew about the kingʻs plan to dissolve Parliament days ahead of the dissolution but they did not warn him.
The Prime Minister is currently in Samoa and was expected to return to Tonga tomorrow.
Lord Maʻafu, the Deputy Prime Minister is now Acting Prime Minister while Hon. Dr. Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa had been appointed as the new Minister of Finance.
