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Prime Minister of Tonga
Head of government of the Kingdom of Tonga
Head of government of the Kingdom of Tonga
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| post | Prime Minister |
| body | the |
| Kingdom of Tonga | |
| native_name | |
| insignia | Coat of arms of Tonga.svg |
| insigniasize | 120px |
| insigniacaption | Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Tonga |
| flag | Flag of Tonga.svg |
| flagsize | 120px |
| flagcaption | Flag of Tonga |
| status | Head of government |
| abbreviation | PM |
| image | Lord Fakafānua in 2024 (cropped).jpg |
| imagesize | 210px |
| incumbent | Fatafehi Fakafānua |
| incumbentsince | 18 December 2025 |
| member_of | |
| style | The Honourable |
| constituting_instrument | Constitution of Tonga |
| appointer | King of Tonga |
| seat | Nukuʻalofa |
| deputy | Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga |
| salary | / annually |
| formation | 1876 (Premier) |
| 1970 (Prime Minister) | |
| inaugural | Tēvita ʻUnga (Premier) |
| Fatafehi Tuʻipelehake (Prime Minister) | |
| website |
Kingdom of Tonga 1970 (Prime Minister) Fatafehi Tuʻipelehake (Prime Minister)
The prime minister of Tonga (historically referred to as the premier) is the head of government of Tonga. Tonga is a monarchy with the king, currently Tupou VI, former prime minister, as head of state. The current prime minister is Fatafehi Fakafānua, who has served since 18 December 2025. Fakafānua was elected by the Legislative Assembly following the 2025 general election.
The office of prime minister was established by the Constitution of 1875, whose article 51 stipulates that the prime minister and other ministers are appointed and dismissed by the king.
The prime minister is assisted by the deputy prime minister.
2000s democratisation
During the 2000s, the country experienced an increase in democratisation. In March 2006, King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV appointed Feleti Sevele, a moderate member of the Human Rights and Democracy Movement, as prime minister. Sevele was the first commoner to hold this post since Shirley Waldemar Baker in 1881. All the prime ministers since Baker had been members of the nobility, or even the royal family.
In July 2008, King George Tupou V announced more substantial democratic reforms. He would abandon the essential part of his executive powers, and would henceforth follow the custom of monarchies such as the United Kingdom, exercising his prerogatives only with the prime minister's advice. In addition, he would no longer appoint the prime minister anyone he wished, but would appoint a member of the Legislative Assembly to be elected by the Legislative Assembly.
List of premiers / prime ministers of Tonga
| Portrait | Name | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Lifespan) | Term of office | Party | Cabinet | Monarch | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Reign) | Start | End | Duration | Independent}};" | Independent}};" | Independent}};" | Independent}};" | Independent}};" | Independent}};" | Independent}};" rowspan="2" | Independent}};" | Independent}};" | Independent}};" | Independent}};" | Independent}};" | Independent}};" | Human Rights and Democracy Movement}};" rowspan="2" | Independent}};" rowspan="2" | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands}};" | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands}};" | Tonga People's Party}};" | Independent}};" | Independent}};" | Independent}};" | Independent}};" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Tēvita ʻUnga.jpg | 80px]] | Crown Prince | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tēvita ʻUnga | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (18241879) | 1 January 1876 | 18 December 1879 | Independent | ʻUnga | George Tupou I[[File:George Tupou I, engraving by John Cochran (1904).jpg | frameless | none | upright=0.4]] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vacant (18 December 1879 – April 1881) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:SW Baker.jpg | 80px]] | Rev. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shirley Waldemar Baker | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (18361903) | April 1881 | July 1890 | Independent | Baker | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Siaosi Uiliami Tukuʻaho.jpg | 80px]] | Siaosi Tukuʻaho | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (18541897) | July 1890 | 1893 | years | Independent | Tukuʻaho | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Siosateki Veikune.jpg | 80px]] | Siosateki Tonga | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (18531913) | 1893 | January 1905 | years | Independent | Veikune | George Tupou II[[File:George Tupou II, photograph by Herman John Schmidt (Flipped and Cropped).jpg | frameless | none | upright=0.4]] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Siaosi Fatafehi Toutaitokotaha.jpg | 80px]] | Siaosi Tuʻipelehake | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (18421912) | January 1905 | January 1905 | Independent | Pelehake | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Sione Tupou Mateialona.jpg | 80px]] | Sione Tupou Mateialona | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (18521925) | January 1905 | 30 September 1912 | Independent | Mateialona | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:TPP Tuʻivakanō.jpg | 80px]] | Tevita Tuʻivakano | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (18691923) | 30 September 1912 | 30 June 1923 | Independent | Tuʻivakano | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sālote Tupou III[[File:Salote Tupou III of Tonga in coronation robe-crop (cropped).jpg | frameless | none | upright=0.4]] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Viliami-Tungī-Mailefihi.jpg | 80px]] | Prince | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Viliami Tungī Mailefihi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (18871941) | 30 June 1923 | 20 July 1941 | Independent | Mailefihi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Solomone Ula Ata | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (18831950) | 20 July 1941 | 12 December 1949 | Independent | Ula | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Tupoutoʻa Tungī.jpg | 80px]] | Crown Prince | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tupoutoʻa Tungī | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (19182006) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 December 1949 | 16 December 1965 | Independent | Tungī | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Prince Tu'ipelehake (cropped).png | 80px]] | Prince | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fatafehi Tuʻipelehake | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (19221999) | 16 December 1965 | 22 August 1991 | Independent | Tuʻipelehake | Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV[[File:Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV - ETH-Bibliothek Com LC1500-0777-001.tif | frameless | none | upright=0.4]] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:STʻ Vaea.jpg | 80px]] | Baron | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Siaosi Vaea | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (19212009) | 22 August 1991 | 3 January 2000 | Independent | Vaea | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Ulukalala Lavaka Ata.jpg | 80px]] | Prince | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ʻUlukālala Lavaka Ata | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1959) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 January 2000 | 11 February 2006 | Independent | Lavaka | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Feleti.jpg | 80px]] | Feleti Sevele | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1944) | 30 March 2006 | 22 December 2010 | Human Rights and Democracy Movement | Sevele | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| George Tupou V[[File:George Tupou V of Tonga, 2011 (cropped).jpg | frameless | none | upright=0.4]] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō 2014.jpg | 80px]] | Lord Tuʻivakanō | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1952) | 22 December 2010 | 30 December 2014 | Independent | Tuʻivakanō I–II | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tupou VI[[File:Dinner for His Majesty King Tupou VI of the Kingdom of Tonga and Her Majesty Queen Nanasipau’u 04.jpg | frameless | none | upright=0.4]] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Akilisi Pohiva ITU 2016.jpg | 80px]] | ʻAkilisi Pōhiva | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (19412019) | 30 December 2014 | 12 September 2019 | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | Pōhiva | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Semisi Sika May 2019.jpg | 80px]] | *Sēmisi Sika* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *(born 1968) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| acting* | 12 September 2019 | 8 October 2019 | ** | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | Pōhiva | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa (cropped).jpg | 80px]] | Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (19512023) | 8 October 2019 | 27 December 2021 | Tonga People's Party | Tuʻiʻonetoa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Siaosi Sovaleni June 2022.jpg | 80px]] | Siaosi Sovaleni | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1970) | 27 December 2021 | 9 December 2024 | Independent | Sovaleni | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Samiu Vaipulu 2023.jpg | 80px]] | *Samiu Vaipulu* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *(born 1953) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| acting* | 9 December 2024 | 22 January 2025 | Independent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Aisake Eke NZHC (cropped).jpg | 80px]] | ʻAisake Eke | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1960) | 22 January 2025 | 18 December 2025 | Independent | Eke | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Lord Fakafānua in 2024 (cropped).jpg | 80px]] | Lord Fakafānua | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1985) | 18 December 2025 | Incumbent | Independent | Fakafānua |
Timeline
ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:12 PlotArea = top:10 bottom:100 right:150 left:20 AlignBars = late
Define $today =
Colors = id:ind value:rgb(0.8,0.8,0.8) legend:None_(Independent) id:hrdm value:rgb(1,0,0) legend:Human_Rights_and_Democracy_Movement id:ptoa value:rgb(0.81,0.06,0.12) legend:Democratic_Party_of_the_Friendly_Islands id:pak value:rgb(0.62,0.33,0.21) legend:Tonga_People's_Party
id:gray1 value:gray(0.85) id:gray2 value:gray(0.95)
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1876 till:$today TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal ScaleMajor = gridcolor:gray1 unit:year increment:10 start:1880 ScaleMinor = gridcolor:gray2 unit:year increment:1 start:1876
Legend = columns:1 left:150 top:35 columnwidth:170
TextData = pos:(20,38) textcolor:black fontsize:M text:"Political affiliation:"
BarData = bar:'Unga bar:Baker bar:Tuku'aho bar:Tonga bar:Tu'ipelehake bar:Mateialona bar:Tu'ivakano bar:Tungi bar:Ata bar:Tupouto'a_Tungi bar:Fatafehi bar:Vaea bar:'Ulukalala bar:Sevele bar:Lord_Tu'ivakano bar:Pohiva bar:Sika bar:Tu'i'onetoa bar:Sovaleni bar:Vaipulu bar:Eke bar:Fakafanua
PlotData = width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till
bar:'Unga from: 01/01/1876 till: 18/12/1879 color:ind text:"Tēvita ʻUnga" bar:Baker from: 01/04/1881 till: 01/07/1890 color:ind text:"Shirley Waldemar Baker" bar:Tuku'aho from: 01/07/1890 till: 01/01/1893 color:ind text:"Siaosi Tukuʻaho" bar:Tonga from: 01/01/1893 till: 01/01/1905 color:ind text:"Siosateki Tonga" bar:Tu'ipelehake from: 01/01/1905 till: 01/01/1905 color:ind text:"Siaosi Tuʻipelehake" bar:Mateialona from: 01/01/1905 till: 30/09/1912 color:ind text:"Sione Tupou Mateialona" bar:Tu'ivakano from: 30/09/1912 till: 30/06/1923 color:ind text:"Tevita Tuʻivakano" bar:Tungi from: 30/06/1923 till: 20/07/1941 color:ind text:"Viliami Tungī Mailefihi" bar:Ata from: 20/07/1941 till: 12/12/1949 color:ind text:"Solomone Ula Ata" bar:Tupouto'a_Tungi from: 12/12/1949 till: 16/12/1965 color:ind text:"Tupoutoʻa Tungī" bar:Fatafehi from: 16/12/1965 till: 22/08/1991 color:ind text:"Fatafehi Tuʻipelehake" bar:Vaea from: 22/08/1991 till: 03/01/2000 color:ind text:"Baron Vaea" bar:'Ulukalala from: 03/01/2000 till: 11/02/2006 color:ind text:"ʻUlukālala Lavaka Ata" bar:Sevele from: 30/03/2006 till: 22/12/2010 color:hrdm text:"Feleti Sevele" bar:Lord_Tu'ivakano from: 22/12/2010 till: 30/12/2014 color:ind text:"Lord Tuʻivakanō" bar:Pohiva from: 30/12/2014 till: 12/09/2019 color:ptoa text:"ʻAkilisi Pōhiva" bar:Sika from: 12/09/2019 till: 08/10/2019 color:ptoa text:"Sēmisi Sika (acting)" bar:Tu'i'onetoa from: 08/10/2019 till: 27/12/2021 color:pak text:"Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa" bar:Sovaleni from: 27/12/2021 till: 09/12/2024 color:ind text:"Siaosi Sovaleni" bar:Vaipulu from: 09/12/2024 till: 22/01/2025 color:ind text:"Samiu Vaipulu (acting)" bar:Eke from: 22/01/2025 till: 18/12/2025 color:ind text:"ʻAisake Eke" bar:Fakafanua from: 18/12/2025 till: $today color:ind text:"Fatafehi Fakafānua"
Notes
References
References
- "New Public Service Remuneration Structure Approved by the Government of Tonga".
- [http://www.parliament.gov.to/about-parliament/parliamentary-system/167-the-executive-government.html "The Executive government "], Tonga government
- (19 December 2025). "King Tupou VI appoints new Prime Minister in private audience". Matangi Tonga.
- (15 December 2025). "Tonga has a new prime minister". Radio New Zealand.
- [http://legislation.to/Tonga/DATA/PRIN/1988-002/ActofConstitutionofTonga.pdf Constitution of Tonga] {{webarchive. link. (19 January 2012)
- [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4708474.stm "Tonga gets first elected leader"], BBC, 13 February 2006
- [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7530209.stm "Tonga's king to cede key powers"], BBC, 29 July 2008
- [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/jul/29/1 "Tongan king promises 'more democracy' for Pacific island"], ''The Guardian'', 29 July 2008
- [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/tongafrenchpolynesia/7884094/King-of-Tonga-prepares-to-give-up-power.html "King of Tonga prepares to give up power"], ''The Telegraph'', 11 July 2010
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