Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa

Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa (born 30 June 1951[1]) is a Tongan accountant and politician who has served as the 17th Prime Minister of Tonga since 2019.[2] Tu'i'onetoa succeeded Semisi Sika, who had served as acting prime minister, since the death of ʻAkilisi Pōhiva.[3]

The Honourable
Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa
Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa in 2020
17th Prime Minister of Tonga
Assumed office
8 October 2019
MonarchTupou VI
DeputySemisi Sika
Sione Vuna Fa'otusia
Lord Maʻafu
Preceded bySemisi Sika (acting)
Succeeded bySiaosi Sovaleni (designate)
Other offices held
Minister for Public Enterprises
Assumed office
10 October 2019
Prime MinisterHimself
Minister of Finance
In office
4 January 2018 – 10 October 2019
Prime MinisterʻAkilisi Pōhiva
Preceded byTevita Lavemaau
Succeeded byTevita Lavemaau
Minister of Labour, Commerce and Industries
In office
30 December 2014 – 4 January 2018
Succeeded byTevita Tu'i Uata
Minister for Revenue and Customs
In office
6 March 2017 – September 2017
Preceded byTevita Lavemaau
Succeeded byMateni Tapueluelu
Police, Prisons and Fire Services
In office
30 December 2014 – 6 March 2017
Succeeded byMateni Tapueluelu
Member of the Tongan Parliament
for Tongatapu 10
Assumed office
27 November 2014
Preceded bySemisi Tapueluelu
Personal details
Born (1951-06-30) 30 June 1951
Talafo’ou, Tonga
NationalityTongan
Political partyTonga People's Party
Alma materMonash University
Institute of Certified Management Accountants

Born in Talafo’ou, Tu’i’onetoa graduated from Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand in 1982, and then the Monash University in 1993. He has a diploma in financial management and a master of business degree. He is also a certified management accountant.[4]

Career

He joined the Tonga Civil Service in January 1979. He was the Official Liquidator of the Commercial Division of the Department of Justice in Hamilton, New Zealand. Between 1983 and 2014 he served as Tonga's Auditor. He was a Private Secretary to King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV from 1987–1988, and also clerk to the Privy Council during the same period. He ran unsuccessfully for parliament in the 2010 Tongan general election.

In the 2014 general election, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga to represent the constituency of Tongatapu 10. In the government of ʻAkilisi Pōhiva, he was Minister of Labor, Commerce and Industries, and Minister of Police, Prisons and Fire Services.[5] In March 2017 he was appointed Minister of Revenue and Customs,[6] replacing Tevita Lavemaau. He held that position until January 2018, when he was appointed Minister of Finance and National Planning.[7]

Prime Minister of Tonga (2019–2021)

On 27 September 2019, Tu’i’onetoa was elected prime minister by fifteen votes against eight for Semisi Sika, who served as acting prime minister.[8] It was officially announced by King Tupou VI on 9 October 2019.[8] He announced his Cabinet appointments on 10 October.[9]

On 12 January 2021 Tu'i'onetoa survived a confidence vote in Parliament, by 13 votes to 9.[10]

He was re-elected to parliament in the 2021 election,[11] and announced his candidacy for re-election as Prime Minister,[12][13] but later withdrew as a contender to back ʻAisake Eke.[14][15] He will be succeeded as Prime Minister by Siaosi Sovaleni.[16]

References
  1. "Dr. Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa". www.parliament.gov.to. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  2. "Tonga MPs choose Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa as Prime Minister". TVNZ. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  3. News, Kaniva. "Tonga's caretaker PM Pōhiva sacks deputy and Finance Minister | Asia Pacific Report". Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  4. ""The Appointment of Hon. Dr. Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa as the New Prime Minister of Tonga"". Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  5. "Tonga leader names one noble in Cabinet". RNZ. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  6. "Tonga Finance Minister resigns". RNZ. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  7. "Biography". Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  8. "Parliament elects Dr Pōhiva Tu'i'onetoa as new PM". Parliament elects Dr Pōhiva Tu‘i‘onetoa as new PM. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  9. ""Prime Minister Announces New Cabinet Ministers"". Government of Tonga. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  10. "Tonga's PM survives motion of no confidence". RNZ. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  11. "Tonga elects all-male parliament with nine new People's Reps". Matangi Tonga. 18 November 2021. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  12. "Tonga: Three contenders for prime minister's job". RNZ. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  13. "ANALYSIS: Tonga in search for viable, credible PM; the best of best has yet to come". Kaniva Tonga. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  14. "First photo emerges as Sovaleni gets support of 11 MPs; Tu'i'onetoa allegedly withdraws from premiership race". Kaniva Tonga. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  15. "Unsuccessful premiership contender Tu'i'onetoa expresses bitterness at being abandoned; continues falsely attacking Democrats". Kaniva Tonga. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  16. "Emotional, Siaosi Sovaleni elected PM Designate". Matangi Tonga. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
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