Tonga’s Prime Minister Resigns Before No Confidence Vote

His resignation comes ahead of Tonga’s elections next year.

Tongan Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni addresses the U.N. headquarters in New York City on Sept. 27, 2024. Kent J. Edwards/Reuters

Tongan Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni announced his resignation ahead of a planned no-confidence motion in Parliament on Dec. 9, according to local media.

At the opening session of Tonga’s Parliament on Dec. 9, Sovaleni said, “I'll be resigning as Prime Minister for Tonga, in accordance with Clause 50A (2)(c) of the Constitution, effective immediately today,” the Matangi Tonga Online reported.