Tonga's sacked former Finance Minister has been asked to help prepare the national budget as a consultant.
Aisake Eke was fired from the government of Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva after abstaining in a vote of no confidence.
The vote was brought by most of the Noble members of parliament, and under Tonga's constitution there can't be another one for 12 months.
But with the Prime Minister's recent statement suggesting Tonga Broadcasting could be closed for not supporting the government, and now the firing and subsequent re-hiring of Aisake Eke to help with the budget, one of the Noble MPs, Lord Fusitua, says its clear the government is in trouble and efforts to hold it to account will continue.
He told Pacific Beat that it now appears that Eke is essential to the government.
He adds the only logical conclusion from all that has happened is that Eke was dismissed because he abstained from voting in a motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister.