ʻAkilisi Pōhiva facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
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| 16th Prime Minister of Tonga | |
| In office 30 December 2014 – 12 September 2019 |
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| Monarch | Tupou VI |
| Deputy | Siaosi Sovaleni |
| Preceded by | Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō |
| Succeeded by | Semisi Sika (acting) Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 20 January 2018 – 12 September 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Siaosi Sovaleni |
| Succeeded by | Semisi Sika (Acting) |
| Minister of Health | |
| In office 4 January 2011 – 13 January 2011 |
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| Prime Minister | Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō |
| Preceded by | Viliami Tangi |
| Succeeded by | ‘Uliti Uata |
| Member of the Tongan Parliament for Tongatapu 1 |
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| In office 26 November 2010 – 12 September 2019 |
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| Preceded by | none (constituency established) |
| Succeeded by | Siaosi Pōhiva |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Samiuela ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
7 April 1941 Fakakakai, Haʻapai, Tonga |
| Died | 12 September 2019 (aged 78) Auckland, New Zealand |
| Political party | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands |
| Other political affiliations |
Human Rights and Democracy Movement (before 2010) |
| Spouse | Neomai Tuitupou Pohiva (Born 1948 died 2018) |
| Alma mater | University of the South Pacific |
Samiuela ʻAkilisi Pōhiva (born 7 April 1941 – died 12 September 2019) was a very important person in Tonga. He worked hard for democracy, which means giving more power to the people.
Pōhiva led a group called the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands. He served as the Prime Minister of Tonga from 2014 until he passed away in 2019. He was special because he was only the fourth "commoner" (someone not from a noble family) to be Prime Minister. He was also the first commoner chosen for the job by Parliament, not just by the King.
Early Life and Activism
Pōhiva started his career as a teacher. He later studied at the University of the South Pacific. After his studies, he joined the Tongan Teacher Training Staff.
In the 1980s, Pōhiva became very active in Tonga's movement for democracy. In 1981, he helped start a monthly radio show called "Matalafo Laukai." This show talked about important issues.
In 1984, he was removed from his government job. This happened because he spoke out against the government. He later took them to court and won his case. In 1986, he started a monthly newsletter for the democracy movement called Kele'a.
Pōhiva was married to Neomai Pōhiva, who passed away in 2018. ʻAkilisi Pōhiva himself died in Auckland, New Zealand, on 12 September 2019, after an illness.
Political Journey
Pōhiva was the person who served the longest as a people's representative in the Tongan Parliament. He was first elected in 1987. His time in politics was often about fighting for more democracy and openness in government. He also worked against corruption.
In 1996, he was briefly put in jail. This was because he reported on what was happening in Parliament. However, the Supreme Court later said that his imprisonment was against the law. In 2002, he was accused of a serious crime because of an article in his newspaper. The article claimed the king had a secret fortune. A jury later found him innocent.
On 18 January 2007, Pōhiva was arrested after some events in Nuku‘alofa. He was later accused of a serious crime again. In the 2008 election, he was re-elected for his eighth term. He received many votes from the people of Tongatapu.
In September 2010, he created the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands. He did this with other representatives from the Human Rights and Democracy Movement. They wanted to run in the 2010 elections. His party won twelve out of seventeen seats for the people's representatives.
After some changes to the country's laws, the Prime Minister would now be chosen by Parliament. This was a big change. Pōhiva wanted to become Prime Minister. On 21 December, Parliament voted. Pōhiva got twelve votes, but another candidate, Lord Tuʻivakanō, won with fourteen votes.
After the election, Pōhiva accepted a job in the new government. He became the Minister for Health. But on 13 January, he resigned from this job. He did this because he disagreed with some choices made for the government. He also refused to sign an agreement that would stop him from voting against government plans in Parliament. From then on, he was seen as the main opposition leader.
In December 2013, a group called Parliamentarians for Global Action gave him an award. It was called the Defender of Democracy Award. They gave it to him for his many years of working for more democracy in Tonga. He was the first person from the Pacific Islands to get this award.
Serving as Prime Minister (2014–2019)
The Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands won 9 out of 17 seats in the 2014 Tongan general election. After this election, Pōhiva was chosen as Prime Minister. He won against Samiu Vaipulu with 15 votes to 11. He chose a government made mostly of commoners. Maʻafu Tukuiʻaulahi was the only noble's representative in his team.
In February 2017, Pōhiva faced a vote to remove him from office. But he stayed on as Prime Minister. His opponents only got 10 votes, while 14 people supported his government.
On 25 August 2017, King Tupou VI removed Pōhiva from his job and called for new elections. The King hoped for a Prime Minister who would be easier to work with. However, the 2017 Tongan general election was a big win for Pōhiva's party. Pōhiva was re-elected as Prime Minister. He won against Siaosi Sovaleni with 14 votes to 12. His new government included one minister who was not a member of Parliament, Dr Tevita Tu'i Uata.
See also
In Spanish: Akilisi Pōhiva para niños
- List of foreign ministers in 2017
