Tonga Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni has resigned, ending a standoff with King Tupou VI who no longer had confidence in him. Sovaleni abruptly stepped down before a planned no-confidence vote, citing that the nobility feared losing their influence. His resignation came after facing opposition from lawmakers and the royal family, with Sovaleni previously surviving a no-confidence vote in September 2023. He resigned for the good of the country, according to a statement from the Tongan parliament. Sovaleni had clashed with King Tupou VI earlier this year, leading to his resignation from the armed forces portfolio. Despite initially resisting the king’s requests, Sovaleni eventually backed down after denying allegations of insulting the monarch in April. With the king still retaining significant powers, it remains uncertain who will replace Sovaleni as prime minister. Veteran politician ‘Aisake Eke is rumored to be a leading candidate. The sudden resignation of Sovaleni has brought uncertainties about the future leadership of Tonga and the relationship between the government and the royal family.
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