30 Dec 2014

New Tongan PM "really sick", rushed home after election

7:04 am on 30 December 2014

Tonga's new Prime Minister, Akilisi Pohiva, has been rushed home by his family after yesterday's election, telling local media he is "really sick".

Mr Pohiva on Monday defeated an independent MP, former deputy prime minister, Samiu Vaipulu, in a secret parliamentary vote.

Matangi Tonga reports Mr Pohiva's son in law, Mateni Tapueluelu, told media waiting outside parliament house that Mr Pohiva was unable to make any comment, as they needed to take him home to rest.

Mr Tapueluelu said Mr Pohiva was "really sick" and might have been at risk of collapsing or fainting.