ʻAisake Eke

ʻAisake Valu Eke
Minister for Finance and National Planning
In office
13 January 2014 – 6 March 2017
Prime Minister Lord Tuʻivakano
ʻAkilisi Pohiva
Preceded by Lisiate ‘Akolo
Succeeded by Tevita Lavemaau
Member of Parliament
for Tongatapu 5
In office
25 November 2010 – 16 November 2017
Preceded by none (constituency established)
Succeeded by Losaline Ma'asi
Majority 2.2%
Personal details
Political party Independent

ʻAisake Valu Eke is a Tongan politician.

A former Secretary for Finance at the Ministry of Finance, he was first elected to the Legislative Assembly at the November 2010 general election, as MP for Tongatapu 5. Though close to the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands, and despite having considered running as a party member, he stood as an independent, taking the seat with 24.1% of the vote and a 63-vote margin; Tongatapu 5 was thus the only constituency on Tongatapu (Tonga's main island) not to be won by the party.[1]

Once elected, he told the press there was much to be done to improve the economy, and said the government should facilitate private sector activity.[2]

In October 2011, he was one of several MPs to protest against Parliament voting large allowances to any of its members on sick leave overseas. Stating that MPs should not be spending more public money on themselves at a time when the economy was weak, he was one of eight MPs to vote against the increased allowances (along with ʻAkilisi Pohiva, Semisi Sika, Sitiveni Halapua, Sangster Saulala, Sione Taione, Falisi Tupou and Moʻale Finau, all members of the Democratic Party). The motion was adopted by twelve votes to eight.[3][4]

In January 2014, Prime Minister Lord Tuʻivakano appointed him Minister for Finance, following the sacking of Lisiate ‘Akolo over a disagreement concerning the budget.[5] He subsequently kept that position in Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pohiva's government. In March 2017, however, he abstained during a parliamentary vote on a motion of no confidence against the government he was part of, and was compelled to resign.[6] He subsequently lost his seat at the 2017 election.

References

  1. ↑ "“Demo Party” win landslide victory in first democratic government", Taimi Media Network, 1 December 2010
  2. ↑ "Grim economic times ahead for new gov’t", Taimi Media Network, 22 December 2010
  3. ↑ "Tongan MPs help themselves to lavish medical leave", Matangi Tonga, 18 October 2011
  4. ↑ "Tongan MP questions government’s new medical regulation", Radio New Zealand International, 19 October 2011
  5. ↑ "‘Aisake Eke appointed new Tongan Finance Minister", Islands Business, 14 January 2014
  6. ↑ "Tonga Finance Minister resigns". Radio New Zealand. 2017-03-06. Retrieved 2017-03-07.


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