Tonga’s By-Elections to be held for vacant parliamentary seats, says Electoral Commissioner

Nukualofa: Tonga’s By-Elections should be held whenever there is a vacancy in Parliament, said the Electoral Commissioner Pita Vuki.

Two People’s Representatives seats, for Tongatapu 10 and Tongatapu seven constituencies, are vacant after the Supreme Court voided the election of the current members.

Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa (TBU 10) and Sangster Saulala (TBU7) the Minister of Internal Affairs, were found to have committed bribery in the lead-up to the 2021 November General Election, after two separate election petitions were successful in the court.

The judgment for Tu’i’onetoa was released last Friday and the judgement for Saulala yesterday morning.

What happens next, Vuki told Matangi Tonga this afternoon, there should By-Elections whenever there is a vacancy in Parliament.