Tonga’s Parliament Elects New Prime Minister After His Predecessor Quit This Month

Tonga's new Prime Minister designate 'Aisake Valu Eke speaks to his nomination at the Tonga Legislative Assembly before the secret ballot for prime minister in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, on Dec. 24, 2024. Tupou Vaipulu/AFP via Getty Images

PERTH, Australia—Tonga ‘s parliament elected Aisake Eke as the country’s new prime minister on Tuesday in a special session of the house on Christmas Eve, after his predecessor quit earlier this month just ahead of a no-confidence vote by lawmakers.

Eke assumes office less than a year before the South Pacific island nation of 105,000 people is to hold its next election.