Fatafehi Fakafānua
Lord Fakafānua | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Fakafānua in 2024 | |
| Prime Minister-designate of Tonga | |
| Assuming office TBD | |
| Monarch | Tupou VI |
| Succeeding | ʻAisake Eke |
| Speaker of the Legislative Assembly | |
| In office December 2017 – 15 December 2025 | |
| Monarch | Tupou VI |
| Prime Minister | ʻAkilisi Pōhiva Semisi Sika (Acting) Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa Siaosi Sovaleni ʻAisake Eke |
| Preceded by | Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō |
| Succeeded by | ʻAlipate Tuʻivanuavou Vaea |
| In office 19 July 2012 – 29 December 2014 | |
| Prime Minister | Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō |
| Preceded by | Lord Lasike |
| Succeeded by | Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō |
| Member of Parliament for Ha‘apai (noble) | |
| Assumed office 16 November 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Lord Tuʻihaʻateiho |
| In office 23 April 2008 – 26 November 2014 | |
| Succeeded by | Havea Tu‘iha‘angana |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 March 1985 |
| Party | Independent |
| Spouse |
Krystal Fane Kite (m. 2014) |
| Parent(s) | Kinikinilau Tūtoatasi Fakafānua Princess Sinaitakala of Tonga |
| Tongan royal family |
|---|
 |
|
| Extended family |
|
Fatafehi Fakafānua, 8th Lord Fakafānua (born Fatafehi Kinikinilau Lolomana‘ia Fakafānua; 20 March 1985), is a Tongan politician and noble who was elected Prime Minister of Tonga following the 2025 general election. He is an extended member of the Tongan royal family.
Fakafānua was first elected to the Legislative Assembly as a member of the nobility in 2008. He served as Speaker of the Tongan Legislative Assembly from 2012 to 2014 and from 2017 to 2025.
Biography
[edit]Fakafānua is the son of Princess Sinaitakala of Tonga and Kinikinilau Tūtoatasi, who was the 7th Lord Fakafānua and estate holder of Maʻufanga. He has a brother, Fakaola mei Langi ʻItafuaʻatonga Tūtoatasi Fakafānua and a sister, Sinaitakala Tu‘imatamoana ‘i Fanakavakilangi Fakafānua, who is married to Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala.[1][2]
He was bestowed with the title Fakafānua, one of the thirty-three hereditary titles of the Tongan nobility, in April 2006.[3][4] The title is attached to the estates of Maʻufanga (on Tongatapu), Ngaʻakau (on Vavaʻu) and Faleloa (on Haʻapai), and enables its holder to be elected to the Legislative Assembly as a representative of the nobility. At a 2008 by-election, he was elected as a representative for Haʻapai, making the youngest member of the Tongan Parliament. He was re-elected in the November 2010 general election.[5]
On 19 July 2012 Fakafānua was elected Speaker of the Tongan Legislative Assembly following Lord Lasike's removal from office,[6] becoming Tonga's youngest ever Speaker.[7] As Speaker he held a "practice parliament" to encourage women to participate in politics.[8] He lost his seat at the 2014 election.[9] At the 2017 election, he regained his seat and was re-elected Speaker.[10][11] Following the 2021 election, he was re-elected Speaker for a third term.[12]
Following the 2025 election, Fakafānua was elected prime minister on 15 December, receiving 16 votes. He defeated the incumbent, ʻAisake Eke, who garnered the support of 10 MPs. Fakafānua became the second nobles' representative to be elected head of government since democratisation.[13] Upon taking office, he will become the youngest Prime Minister of Tonga.[2]
Personal life
[edit]Fakafānua married Lady Krystal Fane Kite, a daughter of Sione Kite, who previously served as Tonga's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and later as Ambassador to the United States, on 15 October 2014.[citation needed]
Honours
[edit]- National honours
Knight Commander of the Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III (31 July 2008)[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "TONGAN NOBLE TUTOATASI LAID TO REST". Pacific Islands Report. 6 March 2006. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
- ^ a b Tora, Iliesa; Fuatai, Teuila (16 December 2025). "What does the election of Tonga's new noble PM mean for democracy?". RNZ. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
- ^ Genealogy
- ^ "Pacific Parliamentary and Political Leaders Forum" (PDF). New Zealand House of Representatives. 2013. p. 40. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
- ^ "Lord Fakafānua", Parliament of Tonga
- ^ "Tonga names new Speaker after Lord Lasike barred from Parliament". RNZ. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
- ^ Maraia Vula (13 August 2016). "Meet Tonga's Youngest Speaker Of the House". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
- ^ "Tonga looks to address gender imbalance in parliament". RNZ. 17 February 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
- ^ "Tongan Voters Elect 12 New MPs". Pacific Islands Report. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
- ^ Vaka'uta, Koro (17 November 2017). "Tongans back Pohiva's Democratic Party". RNZ. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
- ^ "New era in Tonga's parliamentary history about to unfold". RNZ. 18 February 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
- ^ "School drop-outs, illegal drugs and health three major concerns for Tonga's new PM Designate". Matangi Tonga. 15 December 2021. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
- ^ Fuatai, Teuila (15 December 2025). "Tonga has a new prime minister". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
- ^ "Royal orders presented at Palace". Matangi Tonga. 1 August 2008. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.