Tonga's Prime Minister has sounded a defeated tone ahead of facing a motion of no confidence on 15 August..
'Akilisi Pohiva the Prime Minister of Tonga Photo: Alex Perrottet / RNZ
Although it appears 'Akilisi Pohiva has the numbers to survive the motion, brought by Lord Vaea, the Prime Minister said he didn't think he could achieve much more in the upcoming second half of his historic term.
Mr Pohiva has faced renewed criticism for his handling of the economy and the education portfolios, as well as buckling to pressure from the churches to enforce a ban on Sunday trading.
He said he planned to retire in 2018 at the end of the current term, and he was looking for young leaders to continue his reforms.
But Mr Pohiva said it is hard to change the strong cultural mindsets that hold the country back.
"It is not easy. It is much more a problem of the structure of the government and the mindset of the civil servant and the attitude of the leaders, because all of these, they are all requirements," he said.
