Sonatane Tuʻa Taumoepeau-Tupou Sonatane Tuʻa Taumoepeau-Tupou Sonatane Tu'akinamolahi Taumopeau Tupou, Lord Taumoepeau-Tupou of Toula and Kotu (born 14 March 1943, in Nukuʻalofa, died 13 August 2013) was a diplomat from the Kingdom of Tonga. Lord Taumoepeau-Tupou had been the Foreign Minister of Tonga since 24 August 2004, though his appointment was not announced until 2 September 2004. He had also been Minister of Defense since April 2005 till his death. Taumoepeau-Tupou was Tonga's third Foreign Minister, after King George Tupou V (at that time: Tupoutoʻa Lavaka), and most recently Prince Ahoeitu Unuakiotonga Tukuaho (at that time: Lavaka Ata Ulukālala). Taumoepeau-Tupou was a career
George Tupou V 1 August 2008, the King announced that he would relinquish most of his power and be guided by his Prime Minister's recommendations on most matters. The Prime Minister would also be in charge of day-to-day affairs. Tupou V would still have the powers to appoint judges and commute prison sentences. The King also sold off lucrative business interests as part of the announcement. In addition, the King announced that there would be parliamentary reform and elections in 2010. Fielakepa, the spokesman for the royal palace, said, "The Sovereign of the only Polynesian kingdom ... is voluntarily surrendering his powers to