King revokes appointment of Foreign Minister, removes Defence Ministry portfolio from Prime Minister
The Tonga Independent has received reliable confirmed reports that His Majesty King Tupou VI, in a recent Council decision, has revoked the appointments of the Foreign Minister and has removed the Defence Ministry portfolio from Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni.
Historically, matters of state have required meticulous coordination between the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, and His Majesty King Tupou VI, in his capacity as the Head of State. Recent developments suggest a deterioration in the trust His Majesty places in the current government, attributed largely to instances of overreach and incompetence.
Additionally, it is reported that the King has rejected other ministerial nominations proposed by the Prime Minister, including the appointment of Moale Finau as Tourism Minister.
Proposals for assigning the roles of Chief Secretary (equivalent to Chief of Staff at the Prime Minister’s Office) and Secretary to the Cabinet, Paula Ma’u, with the additional responsibility of CEO of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, were also reportedly declined by His Majesty.
These actions indicate a significant departure from the traditional collaboration between the Prime Minister and His Majesty. Stay tuned for more as this significant development unfolds.