Commentary – Tonga’s democratic experiment is being tested yet again.
Prime Minister Aisake Eke’s refusal to discipline Police Minister Piveni Piukala, who is accused of interfering with a court order restraining a Mormon leader from leaving the country, has sparked alarm among members of the nobility and beyond.
Lord Vaea, speaking last week with John Pulu of PMN Tonga, said the nobles were concerned about what they see as a lack of accountability from the Prime Minister.
He criticised Prime Minister Eke for failing to reach a firm decision on Minister Piukala, despite mounting public pressure over the allegations against him.
Lord Vaea stated that the absence of discipline risks eroding public trust in the government.
The concerns come after Piukala was suspended from Parliament in August following a physical altercation with Lord Tu‘ilakepa, Chairman of the Whole House Committee.
About a month after that incident, the Prime Minister announced he had warned Piukala that any further misconduct would result in his dismissal.
The current incident has intensified calls for stronger leadership and clearer standards of conduct within government ranks.
Legal Shield or Leadership Failure?
As pressure mounts, the question is simple: Will the Prime Minister act to restore confidence in the rule of law and uphold the integrity of Tonga’s democratic institutions?
Prime Minister Eke’s defence so far has been to invoke the principle that “everyone is innocent until proven guilty.” While this is a sacred pillar of criminal justice, it is a flimsy and inappropriate excuse for political inaction.
The Prime Minister is confusing a legal standard with a political imperative. His duty is not to adjudicate guilt but to safeguard the credibility of his administration.
Under Tonga’s Westminster-style system, ministers are held to a higher standard of conduct—one that prioritises public confidence over personal comfort.
Ministerial Responsibility Cannot Wait
The allegations against Piukala strike at the heart of the rule of law. A court order represents the authority of justice itself.
For the very Minister charged with upholding that law to be accused of undermining it creates a crisis of confidence that cannot be deferred.
How can Piukala command respect within the police force—or how can the public trust the justice system—while its chief political steward is under investigation for allegedly sabotaging it?
The ministry is effectively paralysed.
This is not a criminal trial. It is a question of political judgment. The doctrine of ministerial responsibility demands that when a minister’s conduct—confirmed or alleged—brings their office into disrepute, resignation or dismissal is the appropriate course.
The Cost of Delay
An investigation could take months or years. Can the government afford to operate under a cloud of suspicion for that long?
Every day Piukala remains in office signals that the alleged subversion of justice is met with indifference from the highest authority.
Removing Piukala pending the outcome of the investigation is not a declaration of guilt.
It is a necessary act to protect the integrity of the ministerial office and to reassure the nation that no one is above the law—especially those sworn to uphold it.
A Moment of Truth for Eke
Prime Minister Eke now faces a stark choice: hide behind misplaced legalism and watch public trust erode, or demonstrate true leadership by prioritising the health of Tonga’s democracy over the political comfort of one man.
The rule of law demands nothing less.
