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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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