Tonga’s Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni has rejected claims that there is a foreign affairs ministerial portfolio standoff which poses a threat to the upcoming Pacific leaders meeting.
Tonga is hosting Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Summit at the end of this month.
Earlier this year, Tonga’s King Tupou VI disapproved of the government’s appointment of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
As a result, the then-minister, Fekita ‘Utoikamanu, stepped away from the post in April and a replacement is yet to be named.
RNZ Pacific’s Tonga correspondent, Kalafi Moala, said two weeks ago the matter was not resolved at all.
“There is a court case in which the royally appointed secretary to Foreign Affairs is suing the government and suing the Public Service Commission, as well as the secretary to government, for trying to get rid of him I don’t know what,” Moala said.
However, PM Sovaleni told RNZ Pacific this week that he is the acting minister of foreign affairs.
“When there is a vacant ministerial position, it is normally the Prime Minister [who] will take up their portfolio unless he [has] delegated to someone else,”” he said.
He stressed there were no issues concerning the portfolio, as was being reported.
“I’m heading down to the Foreign Ministers meeting on Friday in Suva to give them an update in my capacity as Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, so we are okay…things are lining up.”
He confirmed that he will update Forum Foreign Ministers about the preparation for the 53rd Forum Leaders Meeting, including progress on logistics and accommodation.
