Tonga’s parliament has accepted the official resignation of two MPs who were found guilty by the Nuku’alofa Magistrates’ Court last month on bribery charges during the 2025 general elections.
Speaker Lord Vaea said Semisi Sika (Tongatapu 2) and Lata ʻi Faingataʻa Tangimana (Niua 17) had resigned from their seats and their ministerial positions last Friday.
Sika was the infrastructure and tourism minister, while Tangimana was finance minister.
The decision means that there will be by-elections held for both constituencies.
Tonga’s Supervisor of Elections Samiuela Vao said his office will now work on the two by-elections as per the Tonga Constitution.
The Tongan Electoral Commission (Komisoni Fili) will await for thge writ of election to be issued for the two seats from the Palace Office before confirming the dates the by-elections.
Once the writ is issued, the by-elections will be held in not less than 21 nor more than 28 days after the day on which the writ was issued. That period will also include nomination of candidates, with both Sika and Tangimana ruled out for the next five years.
“We are now awaiting for the writ of elections to be issued to us and then from there we will announce the official dates for the by-elections,” Vao said.
“By-election will be held at least 8 weeks from when writ is being issued. Unseated MPs shall not be nominated for candidacy for five years from the date of unseating.”
Prime Minister Lord Fatafehi Fakafanua said he had received the resignation letter from Sika on Friday, while Speaker Lord Vaea confirmed that Tangimana had also resigned on Friday.
The court had convicted Sika of failing to declare a NZ$7000 payment to a dance academy, which prosecutors argued was also an attempt to influence voters.
Sika appealed the decision but lost.
He defended the transaction, saying the omission was a “good faith” mistake rather than a deliberate attempt to sway voters.
Sika said family members had attended the academy and he had a long history of supporting local community groups.
Tangimana was charged for donating fish to some of his constituency members.
Under Tongan law, bribery findings typically require an MP to be “unseated”, raising the possibility that several constituencies could soon face by-elections if the rulings are upheld.
