Tongans divided over bill granting monarch control of key ministries
Photo:
Facebook / Fiji Government
The recent move by Tonga's Legislative Assembly to introduce and pass a bill that transfers oversight of two key ministries from democratic control to the King has divided opinion among Tongans.
The Tongan parliament
passed
the His Majesty's Diplomatic Service Bill 2025 on 5 August, during the final week of the parliamentary session before MPs start campaigning for the elections later this year.
The bill, tabled by the Crown Prince Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala, who was appointed Foreign Affairs Minister earlier this year, replaces Tonga's Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a new entity called His Majesty's Diplomatic Service.
The new entity will be responsible for the "implementation of diplomatic and consular services" as well as having "oversight of immigration in alignment of national interests".
The move has upset pro-democracy advocates in the country, who have called it
"backwards"
. They have presented a petition to King Tupou VI to reconsider giving his royal assent to the bill.
However, not everyone is against the move to transfer control of the Foreign Affairs and Defence to the King, with hundreds of Tongans - both living on the island and in the diaspora - taking to social media to express their support.
"It is his birthright to govern all foreign affairs and defence for his people," wrote Temaleti Uluave in response to an RNZ Pacific story on the issue, posted on Facebook. "We, the people of Tonga trust him most to take care of us," she said. According to her Facebook profile, she lives in Hawaii.
Another user, Feletiliki Lavulavu, whose Facebook profile says he lives in Auckland and is from Leimatu, Vava'u, wrote: "The King Rules like a God! We are lucky to be free. He is the Ruler and the Unification of Tonga! The Heart and Mind of our People! Above all! We are subjects of his majesty the King! Long Live King George Tupou VI! Through your dynasty Tongan has enjoy free speech and democracy!
(sic)
"
A third user Fehi Hafu, said she was "grateful that we have never been under any foreign country's control".
"Apart from the Constitution it is make sense to leave it for the King's Authority and his bloodline because of the National Security. In our own household it is the father's role to protect our family and also watch for any outside enermy likewise the King's role in our Nation
(sic)
," wrote Hafu, who lives in Sydney according to her profile.
Dozoens of commenters to the RNZ Pacific story wrote that it was the King's birthright to govern foreign affairs and defence. "Long live the King," they wrote.
According to the
Tongan Consitution
, Clause 40, which outlines the King's powers, states: "The King is the Sovereign of all the Chiefs and all the people. The person of the King is sacred. He reigns the country but ministers are responsible. All Acts that have passed the Legislative Assembly must bear the King's signature before they become law."
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