Fatafehi Fakafanua

Lord Fakafanua
Fakafanua in 2013
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 2017
Prime MinisterʻAkilisi Pōhiva
Semisi Sika (Acting)
Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa
Siaosi Sovaleni
Preceded bySialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō
In office
19 July 2012 – 29 December 2014
Prime MinisterSialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō
Preceded byLord Lasike
Succeeded bySialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō
Member of Parliament
for Ha‘apai (noble)
Incumbent
Assumed office
16 November 2017
Preceded byLord Tuʻihaʻateiho
In office
23 April 2008 – 26 November 2014
Succeeded byHavea Tu‘iha‘angana
Personal details
Born (1985-03-20) 20 March 1985 (age 39)
Political partynone (Nobles' Representative)
SpouseKrystal Fane Kite
Parent(s)Hon. Dr Kinikinilau Tūtoatasi Fakafānua
Princess Sinaitakala 'Ofeina-'e-he-Langi Fakafānua
Tongan royal family
Royal Arms of Tonga
Extended family

Fatafehi Fakafānua, known before ascending to his title as Fatafehi Kinikinilau Lolomana‘ia Fakafānua (born 20 March 1985), is a Tongan politician, Lord of the Realm and the Speaker of the Tongan Legislative Assembly. He is the 8th Lord Fakafānua.[1]

Biography

He is the son of late Kinikinilau Tūtoatasi, 7th Lord Fakafānua and estate holder of Ma'ufanga, and Princess Sinaitakala 'Ofeina-'e-he-Langi Fakafānua. He has a brother, Fakaola mei Langi ʻItafuaʻatonga Tūtoatasi Fakafānua and a sister, the Crown Princess of Tonga, Sinaitakala Tu'imatamoana 'i Fanakavakilangi Fakafānua.[2]

Through his mother, he is a member of the Tongan royal family and, of her own right, in line to the country's throne.

He was bestowed with the title Fakafānua, one of the thirty-three hereditary titles of the Tongan nobility, in April 2006.[3] The title is attached to the estates of Ma'ufanga (on Tongatapu), Nga'akau (on Vava'u) and Faleloa (on Ha'apai), and enables its holder to be elected to the Legislative Assembly as a Representative of the Nobility. During the 2008 by-election he was elected as a representative for Ha'apai, the youngest member ever of the Tongan Parliament. He was re-elected in the November 2010 general election.[4]

On 19 July 2012 he was elected Speaker of the Tongan Legislative Assembly following Lord Lasike's removal from office,[5] becoming Tonga's youngest ever Speaker.[6] As Speaker he held a "practice parliament" to encourage women to participate in politics.[7] He lost his seat in the 2014 election.[8]

He was elected again in the 2017 election[9] and re-elected Speaker.[10]

Following the 2021 election he was re-elected Speaker.[11]

Personal life

On 1 August 2008, King George Tupou V appointed Fakafānua Commander of the Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III.

On 15 October 2014 he married Krystal Fane Kite, daughter of Tonga's former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, then Ambassador to the United States, the late Sione Kite.

Honours

National honours

References

  1. ^ Genealogy
  2. ^ "TONGAN NOBLE TUTOATASI LAID TO REST". Pacific Islands Report. 6 March 2006. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Pacific Parliamentary and Political Leaders Forum" (PDF). New Zealand House of Representatives. 2013. p. 40. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Lord Fakafānua", Parliament of Tonga
  5. ^ "Tonga names new Speaker after Lord Lasike barred from Parliament". RNZ. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  6. ^ Maraia Vula (13 August 2016). "Meet Tonga's Youngest Speaker Of the House". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Tonga looks to address gender imbalance in parliament". RNZ. 17 February 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Tongan Voters Elect 12 New MPs". Pacific Islands Report. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  9. ^ "Tongans back Pohiva's Democratic Party". RNZ. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  10. ^ "New era in Tonga's parliamentary history about to unfold". RNZ. 18 February 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "Royal orders presented at Palace". Matangi Tonga. 1 August 2008. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.