Tonga elects new prime minister after predecessor’s sudden resignation
Al Jazeera
‘Aisake Valu Eke, former finance minister, is set to lead the Pacific nation until elections in November 2025.
Tonga has elected a new leader by secret ballot in parliament, two weeks after the previous prime minister abruptly resigned, following a power struggle with the Pacific nation’s royal family.
Veteran politician ‘Aisake Valu Eke secured 16 votes to his opponent Viliami Latu’s eight in Tuesday’s vote.
Valu Eke, who will be officially sworn in as prime minister in February, was first elected to parliament in 2010 and served as minister of finance between 2014 and 2017.
He will be in office for less than a year before the South Pacific island nation of 105,000 people holds its next election in November 2025.
Tonga’s parliament consists of 17 lawmakers elected by the public and nine who are nobles, elected by a group of hereditary chiefs. Two members of parliament were unable to vote.
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