LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF TONGA
PRESS RELEASE
WRIT OF ELECTION ISSUED TO THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION TODAY CALLING FOR BY-ELECTION FOR VAVA’U 14
The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Lord Fakafanua, today, issued to the Electoral Commission, a writ of election to elect a new Parliamentary Representative for the Vava’u 14 Constituency. The by-election is called due to vacancy in the parliamentary seat for Vava’u 14 after their Representative, Hon. Saia Ma’u Piukala, resigned from his seat, on the 26th of January 2024.
The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga received the resignation letter from the People’s representative for Vava’u 14, Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala last Friday, 26th of January 2024.
Hon. Dr. Saia Piukala was confirmed last week as the WHO Regional Director for Western Pacific after he was elected by the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific. Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala is the first Pacific Islander to take the role.
Hon. Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala was first elected to Parliament in 2014, and re-elected in the 2017 and 2021 general elections. He served as an MP for a period of ten years and 26 days.
The date for the by-election to elect the Representative for the People of Vava’u 14 was confirmed today for Thursday 28 March 2024, after consultation between the Lord Speaker of Parliament and the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, the Rt. Hon. Lord Dalgety K.C, as required by the Legislative Assembly Act.
The Legislative Assembly will reconvene on the 12th of February,2024.
Issued by the Chief Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
30 January 2024
Office of the Legislative Assembly, Nuku’alofa, Tonga
