Tonga’s Prime Minister Lord Fatafehi Fakafanua confirmed on Tuesday that a Cabinet reshuffle is likely to happen by the end of the week .
“Yes, we’ll make an announcement once it’s all ready,” Lord Fakafanua told RNZ Pacific.
It comes after the resignations of two of the most senior government ministers who were “unseated” by the Tongan Legislative Assembly on 3 August.
The two – former Tourism and Infrastructure Minister Semisi Sika and former Finance Minister Lata Tangimana – were found guilty of bribery by the Nuku’alofa Magistrates’ Court during the 2025 general election.
Lord Fakafanua has been acting as finance minister.
Tangimana, who held the Niua 17 seat, was found guilty of electoral bribery during the November 2025 election and his appeal was quashed by the Court of Appeal in Nuku’alofa last month.
Sika, the Member for Tongatapu 2, had his election declared void by the courts over breaches of electoral expense rules, including failure to properly declare his campaign expenditure, which exceeded the legal spending limit. While he challenged the ruling, the Court of Appeal upheld the earlier decision.
Section 24 on Permitted Election Expenses of the Tonga Electoral Act 1989 states: “No candidates may spend more than TOP$10,000 during, or six months before, or after, any election campaign.”
Lord Fakafanua said they are currently following due process, according to Tonga’s Constitution, on the appointing of ministers to replace the pair.
This includes advising King Tupou VI.
The prime minister has the choice to select replacements from both inside and outside parliament.
Meanwhile, the by-elections for the two vacant seats will be held on 8 October.
Nominations for candidates will be held on 2-3 September.
