Reform comes to Tonga

Tonga officially opened its Parliament yesterday, during the speech from the throne, Princess Regent, Salote Mafile’o Pilolevu Tuita made it clear the government would move quickly on reform:

She confirmed that the next elections, in 2010, will be conducted under a reformed structure.

Princess Pilolevu said it would make this session an historically important one, in that it would be the last under a system that has guided the Kingdom of Tonga for the past 133 years.

[...]

Princess Pilolevu said the Tongan Government next month would introduce a bill to establish a constitution and electoral commission to consider the reform and to draft the necessary legislation.

It's good news, but OTOH, Tonga's corrupt kleptocracy has reneged on such promises in the past, so I'll believe it when I see it.