5 Oct 2018

Motion raised to send Tonga PM overseas for health assessment

10:59 am on 5 October 2018

A bitter feud has again emerged in Tonga's parliament, with two MPs raising a motion to send the prime minister overseas for a health assessment.

Tonga Prime Minister, 'Akilisi Pohiva

Tonga Prime Minister, 'Akilisi Pohiva Photo: RNZ Pacific / Koro Vaka'uta

Lord Tu'ilakepa and Tevita Lavema'au moved that the house send 'Akilisi Pohiva for an assessment, and that a report on his health be sent back to parliament.

They also pushed for their no-confidence motion against Mr Pohiva to be heard yesterday, parliament's final sitting day.

The Speaker did not respond to the requests.

The opposition - which largely consists of nobles - has repeatedly tried to have Mr Pohiva ousted, despite him voters returning him to power last year with an increased majority.