On Friday, Tonga's King George Tupou the sixth has dismissed the country's scandal-ridden Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva and dissolved parliament.
The move, made after a concerted effort by the country's Nobles to push Mr Pohiva out, has left the fledgling democracy in political turmoil.
Mr Brownlee says King Tupou the sixth has made a step that is unprecedented.
"We are assessing as to whether this is an appropriately constitutional move from the King of Tonga - and at first glance, it looks like it is," he said.