His Majesty has appointed Rt Hon Lord Tupou K.C as the Interim Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga effective from last Friday, November 28th, 2014.
In a Press Release issued from the Office of the Interim Speaker states the appointment of the Interim Speaker was made pursuant to clause 61 and subsection (8) of the Schedule of the Act of the Constitution of Tonga.
This provides that the King shall appoint an Interim Speaker following a general election, to be made within seven days from the declaration of the result of the general election.
The Interim Speaker is responsible for presiding over the meeting of the elected Representatives for the purpose of electing a Prime Minister as well as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
Rt Hon. Lord Tupou has now taken up office at the Office of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga to oversee the arrangements for the upcoming sitting.
However, the date of the sitting can only be confirmed after the return of the Writs of Election to His Majesty. The date of the return of the Writs of Election is crucial as that date will determine the time frame required by law within which the preliminary process in the lead up to the meeting must be completed.
Within 10 days from the date of the return of the Writs of Election, the Interim Speaker must invite all the elected Representatives to submit to him nominations for the Prime Minister Designate. Within 14 days from the date of the return of the Writs of Election, nominations for the Prime Minister Designate will close.
Within 3 days from the date of close of nominations for the Prime Minister Designate, the Interim Speaker must call the meeting of all the elected Representatives to elect the Prime Minister Designate and in turn the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
While we await the return of the Writs of Election, arrangements are underway for the Interim Speaker to host a briefing session for all the elected Representatives at l0 am on Tuesday 9 December 2014 at the Fa'onelua Convention Center.
This briefing will provide an opportunity whereby the Interim Speaker will explain the process for election of the Prime Minister Designate as well as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly as is outlined in the Schedule to the Act of the Constitution of Tonga. The briefing will also include a presentation to the elected Representatives of the rules and procedures to be used at the meeting.
A press conference will be held at 12 noon on Tuesday 9th December 2014 at the Fa'onelua Convention Center whereby confirmed details of the meeting of the elected Representatives to elect the Prime Minister Designate, Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be released to the media and the public.
For further information, please contact the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Gloria Pole'o at the contact information provided above or at email