Samuela 'Akilisi Pohiva
| ʻAkilisi Pōhiva | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Prime Minister of Tonga | |
|
Assumed office 30 December 2014 |
|
| Monarch | Tupou VI |
| Preceded by | Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō |
| Minister of Health | |
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In office 4 January 2011 – 13 January 2011 |
|
| Prime Minister | Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō |
| Preceded by | Viliami Tangi |
| Succeeded by | ‘Uliti Uata |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 April 1941 |
| Political party |
Human Rights and Democracy Movement (Before 2010) Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (2010–present) |
| Spouse(s) | Neomai Pohiva |
| Alma mater | University of the South Pacific |
Samiuela ʻAkilisi Pōhiva (born 7 April 1941) is a Tongan pro-democracy activist and politician. Pohiva, the leader of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (DPFI), has served as the Prime Minister of Tonga since 2014. He is only the fourth commoner to serve as Prime Minister (after Shirley Baker in the 1880s, Siosateki Tonga in the 1890s and Feleti Sevele in the 2000s), and the first commoner to be elected to that position by Parliament rather than appointed by the King. On August 25, 2017 he was dismissed by the long along with the rest of parliament and fresh elections are to be held on November 16.
Pōhiva worked as a teacher and later studied at the University of the South Pacific before joining the Tongan Teacher Training Staff. He became active in Tonga's pro-democracy movement in the late 1970s, and in the early 1980s contributed to their monthly radio programme, "Matalafo Laukai". In 1984 he was dismissed from the civil service as punishment for his criticism of the government; he subsequently sued them successfully for unfair dismissal. He then became assistant editor of the democracy movement's monthly newsletter, Kele'a.
'Akilisi Pōhiva is married to Neomai Pōhiva.
Pōhiva is the longest-serving people's representative in the Tongan Parliament, having first been elected in 1987. His political career has been marked by constant battles with the Tongan monarchy over democracy, transparency and corruption. In 1996 he was imprisoned for contempt of Parliament on the order of the Legislative Assembly for reporting on Parliament's proceedings. He was subsequently released after the Supreme Court ruled that the imprisonment was "unlawful and unconstitutional". In 2002 he was charged with sedition over an article published in his newspaper Kele’a alleging the king had a secret fortune, but was acquitted by a jury.
On 18 January 2007 Pōhiva was arrested over his role in the 2006 Nuku'alofa riots. He was subsequently charged with sedition. Hearing of the charges has been repeatedly delayed and is now not expected to occur until August 2008.
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