Paula Piukala

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.

Paula Piukala
Member of the Tongan Parliament
for Tongatapu 7
Assumed office
3 November 2022
Preceded bySione Sangster Saulala
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic 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]

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


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