ʻAisake Eke

ʻAisake Valu Eke is a Tongan politician.

A former Secretary for Finance at the Ministry of Finance, he was first elected to the Legislative Assembly at the November 2010 general election, as MP for Tongatapu 5. Though close to the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands, and despite having considered running as a party member, he stood as an independent, taking the seat with 24.1% of the vote and a 63-vote margin; Tongatapu 5 was thus the only constituency on Tongatapu (Tonga's main island) not to be won by the party.^[1]

Once elected, he told the press there was much to be done to improve the economy, and said the government should facilitate private sector activity.^[2]

In October 2011, he was one of several MPs to protest against Parliament voting large allowances to any of its members on sick leave overseas. Stating that MPs should not be spending more public money on themselves at a time when the economy was weak, he was one of eight MPs to vote against the increased allowances (along with ʻAkilisi Pohiva, Semisi Sika, Sitiveni Halapua, Sangster Saulala, Sione Taione, Falisi Tupou and Moʻale Finau, all members of the Democratic Party). The motion was adopted by twelve votes to eight.^[3][4]

In January 2014, Prime Minister Lord Tuʻivakano appointed him Minister for Finance, following the sacking of Lisiate ‘Akolo over a disagreement concerning the budget.^[5]

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