Reports allege the prime minister-elect has nominated people who were not Members of Parliament for his new cabinet.
Kaniva News reported last week that the King was expected to appoint the new Cabinet this week, according to the Prime Minister-designate.
The number of nobility MPs, previously claimed to be three in the new Cabinet, now allegedly dropped to only one.
The latest preliminary unofficial cabinet lineup paper seen by Kaniva News this morning claimed Crown Prince Tupouto’a was still the potential Minister of Defence and Foreign Affairs.
It alleged that three other Cabinet ministers were nominated outside of the parliament.
The preliminary nominations appeared to show that the only MP chosen from the nobility’s bench was made because of the cultural assumption that a noble in that position represents the fonua (lands) better than a commoner.
Kaniva News contacted the Prime Minister-designate and sent him that leaked list for confirmation and an update.
His communication officer, MP Taniela Fusimālohi, said they would release the new Cabinet ministers’ names in a press conference.
The apparent multiple alterations in the Cabinet lineup nominees since the unofficial lineup may signify a carefully considered strategy by Eke, designed to guarantee that his nominations gain the essential backing and support from the king.
The constitution does not contain any provision granting the king the authority to participate in the Prime Minister’s process of selecting and nominating Cabinet ministers.
However, the prime minister has to submit them for the King to appoint, according to the constitution.
The latest leaked provisional Cabinet lineup comes after a delay in the Prime Minister’s and new Cabinet’s royal appointment, which was reportedly due to the King’s already booked schedule.
Former Prime Minister Hon Hu’akavameiliku was elected on 15 December 2022 and was appointed by the king less than two weeks later on 27 December.
Eke was elected on 24 December 2024 and is expected to be appointed on Tuesday 21,2025 about a month since his election.
The King’s reactions to recent nominations of Cabinet Ministers and meetings with prime ministers reflect a recurring pattern of protests from him.
As Kaniva News reported last year, Hu’akavameiliku had nominated an MP to replace former and late Minister for Fisheries Semisi Fakahau. The king did not appoint that nomination. No information was publicly provided to explain why.
When Hu’akavameiliku was later asked for an update, he said during a press conference that he was still awaiting an update from the royal palace’s office.
However, when Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola was later nominated to replace outgoing Minister of Health Saia Piukala, the king spent no time appointing him.
There were also complaints by former Prime Ministers accusing the King of breaching the constitution by refusing to meet with them regularly.
Former and late Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa told Kaniva News in an interview that the king had revealed in one of their meetings that His Majesty later refused to meet with former Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva. Tu’i’onetoa claimed the king thought ‘Akilisi did not correctly convey their meetings to the public. Tu’i’onetoa did not say whether or not the king informed Akilisi of his concern.
Kaniva News understands that the king took a similar stance towards Tu’i’onetoa and Hu’akavameiliku by allegedly refusing to meet them following a series of meetings that took place previously.
