Pohiva officially appointed as Tonga's PM

SUVA, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Tonga's King Tupou VI has officially appointed Akilisi Pohiva as the South Pacific island state's prime minister.

Radio New Zealand reported on Thursday the Tongan king's appointment of the 76-year-old Pohiva as the prime minister, but did not say when the appointment took place.

Pohiva, who became Tonga's prime minister in 2014, was removed from the post by King Tupou VI after the king dissolved the parliament in August last year, but Pohiva's Democratic Party enjoyed a resounding victory in the November election last year by winning 14 of the 17 People's Representatives seats.

In a secret ballot in December last year, Pohiva was re-elected by winning 14 votes in Tonga's parliament.

According to Tonga's constitution, the king has to appoint the prime minister-designate for the election to come into effect.

Pohiva is expected to formally announce his new cabinet in the week to come. Enditem