Tonga’s constitutional monarchy has featured a prime minister backed by a majority popularly elected parliament since 2010. However, the king retains important powers, including the authority to veto legislation, dissolve the parliament, and appoint judicial officials, and the current monarch has reversed some democratic reforms. While civil liberties are generally protected, ongoing concerns include official corruption and land laws that discriminate against women.

• In February, the king sought to revoke his appointments of the ministers responsible for defense, foreign affairs, and tourism, prompting the attorney general to advise the government that the king’s decision was unconstitutional without the prime minister’s recommendation. After further discussion and under pressure from noble members of the parliament, however, the government relented in late March, with Fekita ‘Utoikamanu stepping down as minister of foreign affairs and tourism, and Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni giving up the defense portfolio. Sovaleni’s relations with the king remained tense, and in December the prime minister resigned to avoid a no-confidence vote. Lawmakers selected ‘Aisake Eke to replace him in a vote of 16–8.
• Separately in February, the parliament resumed live online streaming of audio from its proceedings. The body’s leadership had ended live radio broadcasts in August 2023, which raised concerns about transparency.
• In June and July, the government confirmed the appointments of the first leaders of the Office of the Anti-Corruption Commissioner, finally allowing the office to begin operations after it was originally established by law in 2007. New Zealander Chris LaHatte was appointed as commissioner by the king in March and sworn into office before the cabinet in July. Tongan lawyer Mele Fakatouato Mangisi was appointed as executive director in June.
• Welsh jurist Malcolm Bishop was appointed as Tonga’s chief justice and president of its Land Court in September. Members of the Tonga Law Society filed a petition calling for his removal on the grounds that he was openly gay, but he remained in his post at year’s end.
• In October, two prison officers were suspended for allegedly accepting bribes and facilitating the trafficking of illicit drugs into the country’s prison.

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For additional background information, see last year’s full report.