Tonga's Legislative Assembly at its temporary location in the Tongan National Cultural Centre Photo: VNP / Daniela Maoate-Cox
Earlier this year, Tonga's King Tupou VI let it be known he was unhappy with the government appointing the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
As a result the then-minister, Fekita 'Utoikamanu, stepped away from the post in April, but a replacement is yet to be named.
Meanwhile, the ministry is also without a chief executive with the appointment of Paula Ma'u suspended while the outgoing CEO, Viliami Malolo, seeks a judicial ruling on his removal.
RNZ Pacific's Tonga correspondent, Kalafi Moala, said this leaves a political impasse, with the matter apparently not sorted at all.
Fekita 'Utoikamanu stepped down as Foreign Affairs Minister in April. Photo: Pacific Community
"Firstly, 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 nobody knows who is responsible for Foreign Affairs.
This is critical as the Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting in Tonga next month, and Foreign Affairs would normally have a key role.
"It is actually the Prime Minister's Office that is going to make some very key decisions on Foreign Affairs once the Pacific Island Forum is on," Moala said.
He said the King's belief is that "traditionally, and even constitutionally, [he is] been authorised to be the only one that can sign treaties.
"In other words, if Tonga has a treaty with any foreign nation, there has to be royal approval and the royal signature into it, not only stated in the constitution, but that's how things have been run in Tonga."
Moala said the advice he has received is that it would not be sorted out until the matter is brought to Parliament with a solution driven by members of the nobility.
"But it is very complex, and I cannot say it is going to be an easy road, but it needs to be sorted out sooner or later."
