LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF TONGA
PRESS RELEASE
MEMBERS TO BE UNSEATED FROM THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF TONGA
The Lord Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Lord Fakafanua, received two Court Certifications on 2 May 2022, which confirmed that the elections in the 18 November 2021 General Election of the respective Parliamentary Representatives for Tongatapu 10, Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa, and Tongatapu 7, Sione Sangster Saulala, have been voided by the Supreme Court of Tonga. This is the outcome of judgements on respective election petitions that were brought against Tuʻiʻonetoa and Saulala on charges of bribery.
The Legislative Assembly is required under the Electoral Act to unseat the two Members of Parliament from their respective seats in the Assembly, due to their elections having been voided by the Supreme Court. The unseating will be carried out at the Assembly’s meeting to be held on 16 May 2022. Once unseated, the seats in Parliament for Tongatapu 10 and Tongatapu 7 will be vacant. The Lord Speaker will then issue writs for election of new Representatives for Tongatapu 10 and Tongatapu 7. The date for the election of the new Representatives for the two constituencies will be determined by the Electoral Commission in consultation with the Speaker.
Issued by the Chief Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
4 May 2022
Office of the Legislative Assembly, Nuku’alofa, Tonga
