Hope for change in Tonga?

Following the death of King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, the media have now turned their attention to his successor, now King Siaosi Tupou V. Siaosi is a corrupt kleptocrat who has personally profited at the expense of his people via privatisations of Tonga's electricity and telecommunications monopolies and internet domain, and control of royal monopolies over air transport. And he reportedly has nothing but contempt for his people, being quoted as calling them "squatters" who

left to their own devices they would urinate in the elevators. As it is, they see nothing wrong with allowing their pigs to run all over their townships leaving pig droppings everywhere.

Somewhat surprisingly, however, he also reportedly recognises the need for democratic reform:

King Tupou V has said he does not fear change. In 1990 he was sympathetic to democratic reforms, favouring a Westminster model. He is partly credited for his father's move last year to allow for extra Cabinet ministers, two elected by the people and two by the noble families, to supplement the hand-picked Cabinet of 12.

In March King Tupou IV also appointed Dr Sevele as the first commoner Prime Minister.

On Australian radio last year the Crown Prince suggested all future Cabinet ministers apart from the Prime Minister would come from those winning seats in Parliament.

If he follows through on this, then it will be a significant step forward, though obviously not far enough. But reform takes time: it took Britain over 300 years to make the shift from a toy Parliament to responsible government by a process of incremental reform. The process in Tonga will go much faster, partly because Tongans can see how democracy works overseas, but it's still not going to happen overnight unless the king is foolish enough to resist it.