Paula Piukala Explained

Constituency Mp10:Tongatapu 7
Parliament10:Tongan
Term Start10:3 November 2022
Predecessor10:Sione Sangster Saulala
Party:Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands

Paula Piveni Piukala is a Tongan politician and Member of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. He is a member of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.

Piukala works in the information technology industry, including as a computer systems manager for Shoreline Group. In March 2005 he became a whistleblower against Shoreline, alleging financial mismanagement, falsified audits, and exorbitant salaries paid to the company's executives, which included Crown Prince Tupouto‘a (later George Tupou V).[1] The allegations led to a court case and protests against Shoreline from the Human Rights and Democracy Movement.[1] He later worked as director of Tonga Cable.[2]

At the 2021 Tongan general election he sought the PTOA nomination for Tongatapu 7, but a factional dispute inside the PTOA saw him lose to Sione Sangster Saulala.[3] He contested the election anyway, but lost.[4] Following the election he challenged Saulala's election in court,[5] resulting in the latter's election being voided for bribery.[6] [7] [8] Piukala was elected in the subsequent 2022 Tongatapu 7 by-election.[9] [10]

In February 2024 he was suspended from parliament for seven days after offending Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni during a heated debate on Lulutai Airlines.[11] The suspension was later reduced, and Piukala resumed his seat on 26 February.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Tonga . Leslie . Heather E. Young . The Contemporary Pacific . 19 . 1 . 2007 . 262–276 . 10.1353/cp.2007.0021 . 4 November 2022.
  2. Web site: Tonga turns to satellite to re-connect . RNZ . 22 January 2019 . 4 November 2022.
  3. Web site: Sika's PTOA team rejects Tt 7 majority poll favouring Piveni Piukala as candidate; nominates independent Sangstar Saulala instead . Kaniva Tonga . 12 November 2021 . 4 November 2022.
  4. Web site: A sobering reality hits Democrats after election losses; voters elect nine new faces . Kaniva Tonga . 18 November 2021 . 4 November 2022.
  5. Web site: Seven Tongan MPs and Cabinet Ministers on trial for alleged illegal election campaign financing . Kaniva Tonga . 31 March 2022 . 4 November 2022.
  6. Web site: Appeals dismissed, three Cabinet Ministers elections void . Matangi Tonga . 9 August 2022 . 10 August 2022.
  7. Web site: Tonga court dismisses three Cabinet Ministers' electoral fraud appeals; upholds former PM's appeal . Kaniva Tonga . 9 August 2022 . 10 August 2022.
  8. Web site: Three Cabinet Ministers unseated . Matangi Tonga . 10 August 2022 . 11 August 2022.
  9. Web site: 3 new MPS for Tongatapu decided in by-election . Matangi Tonga . 3 November 2022 . 4 November 2022.
  10. Web site: Democrats claim victory in Tonga by-elections . Kaniva Tonga . 3 November 2022 . 4 November 2022.
  11. Web site: People's Rep, Piveni Piukala suspended from parliament . Matangi Tonga . 20 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240220050509/https://matangitonga.to/2024/02/20/pr7-piveni-piukala-suspended-parliament . 20 February 2024.
  12. Web site: People's Rep Piukala returns to House after suspension reduced . Matangi Tonga . 26 February 2024. 27 February 2024.

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