Tongan MPs

'Akilisi Pohiva, whose reign was shortened by the August dissolution of parliament by the king, is up against his former deputy, Siaosi Sovaleni.

Mr Pohiva's democratic party won 14 seats in the subsequent November election giving him a slight majority in the 26 seat House.

So far there is no indication of any member of his party crossing the floor to support Mr Sovaleni, who was the third highest polling candidate in the election, although speeches are continuing and voting will be done in secret.

Lord Fusitu'a won one of the nine seats set aside for the 33 hereditary nobles.

The snap election was the result of the royal dissolution of parliament which came after the then Speaker Lord Tu'ivakano approached the King about concerns he held over the government's conduct.

Lord Fusitu'a said parliamentarians can learn from the last few years.

In his speech during the workshop the Speaker of the House, Lord Tu’ivakano commended the workshop and spoke about its importance in that it helped improve the transparency, accountability and working relationships of Tongan parliamentarians especially members of Public Accounts Committee.