ʻAisake Eke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
ʻAisake Eke
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Eke in 2025
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| Prime Minister of Tonga | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 22 January 2025 – 18 December 2025 |
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| Monarch | Tupou VI | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy | Taniela Fusimalohi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Samiu Vaipulu (acting) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Fatafehi Fakafānua | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Member of the Tongan Parliament for Tongatapu 5 |
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| Assumed office 18 November 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Losaline Maʻasi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 25 November 2010 – 16 November 2017 |
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| Preceded by | New constituency | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Losaline Maʻasi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Majority | 2.2% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Tonga | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Independent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ʻAisake Valu Eke is a politician from Tonga. He served as the Prime Minister of Tonga from January to December 2025. Before that, he also worked in the Cabinet as the Minister for Finance and National Planning from 2014 to 2017.
Contents
Education and Early Career
ʻAisake Eke studied economics at the University of the South Pacific in the 1980s. Later, he earned a special degree called a Doctor of Business Administration from the University of Southern Queensland in Australia in 2013. His research was about improving public services in Tonga.
Before becoming a Member of Parliament, Mr. Eke worked as a Secretary for Finance at the Ministry of Finance.
Serving as a Member of Parliament
First Election to Parliament
Mr. Eke was first chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for the area called Tongatapu 5 in the November 2010 general election. Even though he was friendly with the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands, he decided to run as an independent candidate. This means he didn't belong to a specific political party. He won his seat with 24.1% of the votes, which was a close win. His area was the only one on Tongatapu (Tonga's main island) not won by the Democratic Party.
After he was elected, he told reporters that Tonga's economy needed a lot of improvement. He believed the government should help businesses grow.
Speaking Out for Public Money
In October 2011, Mr. Eke and some other MPs spoke out against a plan to give large payments to MPs who were sick overseas. He felt that politicians should not spend more public money on themselves when the country's economy was not strong. He and seven other MPs voted against these extra payments, but the plan was still approved.
Minister of Finance Role
In January 2014, Prime Minister Lord Tuʻivakano chose Mr. Eke to be the Minister of Finance. This happened after the previous minister, Lisiate ‘Akolo, was removed from his position because of a disagreement about the country's budget. Mr. Eke continued as Finance Minister when ʻAkilisi Pohiva became Prime Minister.
However, in March 2017, he did not vote during a special parliamentary vote to decide if the government should continue. Because of this, he was asked to step down from his role. He then lost his seat in the 2017 election.
Return to Parliament
Mr. Eke was re-elected as the MP for Tongatapu 5 in the 2021 election. After this election, he was one of three people who wanted to become Prime Minister. However, Siaosi Sovaleni won the position with more votes. In May 2022, a court found him not guilty of bribery.
Prime Minister of Tonga (2025)
On December 24, 2024, the Legislative Assembly of Tonga chose Mr. Eke to be the Prime Minister. He won against Viliami Latu. King Tupou VI officially appointed Mr. Eke as Prime Minister on January 22, 2025. His team of ministers, called the cabinet, was announced on January 28. This team included four new members of parliament, two of whom were women. The cabinet also had a noble, Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala, who became the foreign minister.
In February 2025, Mr. Eke announced that his government would change a decision made by the previous government. They decided to reverse the plan to make Vavaʻu International Airport a private company.
Mr. Eke was re-elected in the 2025 Tongan general election. He then ran for Prime Minister again in a special parliamentary election held on December 15. He received 10 votes but was defeated by the speaker of parliament, Fatafehi Fakafānua, who received 16 votes. Mr. Fakafānua took over as Prime Minister from Mr. Eke on December 18, 2025.
Honours and Awards
Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III, Commander (awarded on July 31, 2008).
See also
In Spanish: ʻAisake Eke para niños
