Transcript
Lord Vaea indicated he would try and submit the motion this week but he hasn't officially done so yet. Vava'u representative Samiu Vaipulu now says numbers are still being confirmed and more time may be needed. Health Minister and first term independent MP Saia Piukala says he thinks backers of the proposed motions are struggling.
'If they were serious about the vote of no confidence, they would have submitted something by now. Because the Constitution [says] that after the first 18 months, you can submit a vote of no confidence if you think you need to change the government."
Dr Piukala says the Constitution's no-confidence mechanism doesn't help political stability.
"If you look at the stability of the government, you can't really run the government and after one year and six months then you change the government. Then one term will be just changing government and nothing much done to the country. So in terms of stability, I think the vote of no confidence, I know it's in the Constitution, but for the stability of government it is not too good."
Last term the current Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva led a failed motion of no-confidence against the then government of Lord Tu'ivakano. Lord Vaea has continued his push for the latest motion, saying there has been a lot of horse-trading behind closed doors, particularly with independent MPs, who may be swayed.
"They are looking at maybe jostling for position. If the numbers change or some of them crosses the floor, that's why the negotiation is also part of what we are looking at and therefore some members may feel they are not happen within Cabinet and some of them may feel to move across. These are issues they want to establish so this is part of the negotiation that goes ahead."
Internal Affairs Minister Fe'ao Vakata has called on the nobility to provide solutions to the Kingdom's problems rather than try and take down the government. Mr Vakata says it is unfortunate that Lord Vaea sees a no-confidence motion as necessary.
"I believe the nobles are there to support and build the government and if they are helping, if they want to help, then give us the solutions of what they think that government should be doing instead of trying to take down government."
Mr Vakata says independents, led by Dr Piukala, Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni, and Public Enterprise Minister Poasi Tei, are loyal to Mr Pohiva. He is no different.
"I will stick with the current government, for obvious reasons. Firstly, your credibility as a Respresentative. If you keep changing your mind, who would trust you. For that principle, I would stick with the current government."
There are 26 representatives in Tonga's parliament consisting of 17 popularly elected Peoples' Representatives and nine Nobles' Representatives. In terms of the no-confidence motion, Lord Vaea says numbers are fluid but are close to 50-50.
