PRESS RELEASE
WRITS OF ELECTION ISSUED TO THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION TODAY IN RESPECT OF THREE ELECTORAL CONSTITUENCIES IN TONGATAPU
The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Lord Fakafanua, today, issued to the Electoral Commission, writs of election for by-elections to elect Parliamentary Representatives of the people for three Electoral Constituencies in Tongatapu, namely Tongatapu 4, Tongatapu 6 and Tongatapu 7.
The by-elections are called due to vacant parliamentary seats for the respective electoral constituencies following the unseating of their Representatives by the Legislative Assembly on 10 August 2022. The Representatives were Tatafu Toma Moeaki for Tongatapu 4, Poasi Mataele Tei for Tongatapu 6, and Sione Sangster Saulala for Tongatapu 7. The unseating is required by the Electoral Act and follows the election-petition related Court of Appeal judgements that were released on 9 August 2022. The Court of Appeal decisions in turn confirmed the declaration that the election of the respective Representatives in the General Election of 18 November 2021 was void.
The date for the by-elections to elect Representatives for the people of Tongatapu 4, Tongatapu
6, and Tongatapu 7 was confirmed today for Thursday 3 November 2022, after consultation between the Lord Speaker of Parliament and the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, the Rt. Hon. Lord Dalgety Q.C, as required by the Legislative Assembly Act.
Issued by the Chief Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
11 August 2022
Office of the Legislative Assembly, Nuku’alofa, Tonga
