Fatafehi Fakafānua, known before ascending to his title as Fatafehi Kinikinilau Lolomana‘ia Fakafānua (born 20 March 1985), is a

Tonga Tonga (, ; ), officially the Kingdom of Tonga ( to, Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga), is a Polynesian country and archipelago. The country has 171 islands – of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about , scattered over in ...

n politician,

Lord of the Realm ''En af rikets herrar'' (in Swedish) or Lord of the Realm was an honorary title introduced by King Gustaf III of Sweden shortly after his bloodless coup d'état in 1772, and after the new constitution was passed by the Riksdag of the Estates. It ...

and the Speaker of the Tongan Legislative Assembly. He is the 8th Fakafānua.

Biography

He is the son of late Kinikinilau Tūtoatasi, 7th Lord Fakafānua and estate holder of Ma'ufanga, and Princess Sinaitakala 'Ofeina-'e-he-Langi Fakafānua. He has a brother, Fakaola mei Langi ʻItafuaʻatonga Tūtoatasi Fakafānua and a sister, the Crown Princess of Tonga, Sinaitakala Tu'imatamoana 'i Fanakavakilangi Fakafānua. Through his mother, he is a member of the Tongan royal family and, of her own right, in line to the country's throne. He was bestowed with the title Fakafānua, one of the thirty-three hereditary titles of the Tongan nobility, in April 2006. The title is attached to the estates of Ma'ufanga (on

Tongatapu Tongatapu is the main island of Tonga and the site of its capital, Nukualofa. It is located in Tonga's southern island group, to which it gives its name, and is the country's most populous island, with 74,611 residents (2016), 70.5% of the nation ...

), Nga'akau (on Vava'u) and Faleloa (on Ha'apai), and enables its holder to be elected to the Legislative Assembly as a Representative of the Nobility. During the 2008 by-election he was elected as a representative for Ha'apai, the youngest member ever of the Tongan Parliament. He was re-elected in the November 2010 general election. On 19 July 2012 he was elected Speaker of the Tongan Legislative Assembly following Lord Lasike's removal from office, becoming Tonga's youngest ever Speaker. As Speaker he held a "practice parliament" to encourage women to participate in politics. He lost his seat in the 2014 election. He was elected again in the 2017 election and re-elected Speaker. Following the 2021 election he was re-elected Speaker.

Personal life

On 1 August 2008, King

George Tupou V George Tupou V ( Tongan: Siaosi Tupou, full name: Siaosi Tāufaʻāhau Manumataongo Tukuʻaho Tupou; 4 May 194818 March 2012) was the King of Tonga from the death of his father Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV in 2006 until his own death six years later. ...

appointed Fakafānua Commander of the Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III. On 15 October 2014 he married Krystal Fane Kite, daughter of Tonga's former High Commissioner to the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, then Ambassador to the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

, the late Sione Kite.

Honours

;National honours * The_Most_Illustrious_Order_of_Queen_Salote_Tupou_III_Member

Knight Commander of the Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III (31 July 2008).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fakafanua, Fatafehi 1985 births Members of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga Speakers of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga Tongan nobles Living people Knight Commanders of the Order of Queen Sālote Tupou III