Tonga's parliament has elected former finance minister 'Aisake Eke as its new prime minister in a Christmas Eve sitting.
He was elected in a secret ballot of Tonga's members of parliament on Tuesday afternoon (local time), winning the vote against the only opponent, Trade Minister Viliame Latu, by 16 votes to eight.
"We are all here today to support each other to build Tonga," he said shortly after the result was announced.
"The responsibility is a sacred responsibility," he later told the ABC.
"We believe in God and also all of us working together.
"We are hopeful, for Christmas tomorrow, I think it gives us hope."
The vote followed former prime minister Siaosi Sovaleni Hu'akavameiliku's surprise resignation this month before an expected vote of no-confidence in parliament.
He announced the move before the motion for a no-confidence vote, lodged last month by Dr Eke, was tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
Among the seven reasons for the motion were concerns over the amount of government spending at the recent Pacific Islands Forum meeting, the performance of domestic airline Lulutai, and concerns over a legal case involving the country's reserve bank.
The motion was set to be the second faced by Mr Sovaleni, who easily defeated a previous attempt to unseat him as prime minister in September 2023.
It also followed months of political uncertainty in Tonga that observers say began when its king, Tupou VI, withdrew his confidence in the foreign minister, and in Mr Sovaleni as defence minister, in February.
Dr Eke was first elected to parliament in 2010, and was Tonga's finance minister for three years until 2017.
He lost his seat in the election that year and was re-elected to the Legislative Assembly in 2021.
Dr Eke served in Tonga's ministry of finance for more than 20 years before first entering parliament.
Tonga's new prime minister assumes the office with less than a year before the country's next election, due in November 2025.
Public reaction has been mixed in Tonga in the lead-up to Tuesday's vote.
While some wanted new leadership and supported Dr Eke, others had wanted Mr Sovaleni's government to continue, saying the country needed to continue its development projects and prepare for hosting the Pacific Games in 2031.
Some have also questioned how much a new government would be able to accomplish before the next election.
