Suva, Dec 24 (NationPress) Aisake Valu Eke has been elected to serve as the Prime Minister of Tonga on Tuesday, according to a report by Radio Nukualofa.

He will take over the position from Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, who stepped down on December 9.

Valu Eke is scheduled for an official swearing-in ceremony as Prime Minister in February. His political career began when he was first elected to parliament in 2010, and he held the position of Minister of Finance from 2014 to 2017. He will serve in this role for less than a year before the next election takes place in November 2025, for the nation of 105,000 people.

Tonga’s Parliament comprises 17 members elected by the public and nine nobles chosen by a council of hereditary chiefs. Two members were unable to participate in the voting process.

Aisake Eke pursued his studies at the University of Southern Queensland in Australia, where he earned a PhD for his thesis titled "An exploratory study on the quality of service in the public sector in Tonga" completed in 2013.

Previously serving as a Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly during the general election in November 2010, representing Tongatapu 5. Although he was affiliated with the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands, he chose to run as an independent candidate, securing his seat with 24.1% of the vote and a narrow margin of 63 votes. Notably, Tongatapu 5 was the only constituency on Tongatapu (the main island of Tonga) where the party did not win.

In October 2011, he joined other MPs in voicing concerns about Parliament approving substantial allowances for members on overseas sick leave. He argued against the misuse of public funds during a period of economic weakness, being one of eight MPs to vote against the increased allowances. The motion ultimately passed with twelve votes in favor and eight against.

In January 2014, he was appointed Minister of Finance by Prime Minister Lord Tuʻivakano after the dismissal of Lisiate ‘Akolo due to budgetary disagreements. He retained this role under Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva but abstained from a parliamentary vote regarding a motion of no confidence in March 2017, leading to his resignation. He subsequently lost his parliamentary seat in the 2017 elections.