Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa (30 June 1951 – 18 March 2023) was a Tongan accountant and politician who served as the 17th prime minister of Tonga from 2019 to 2021.[1] Tu'i'onetoa succeeded Semisi Sika, who had served as acting prime minister, since the death of ʻAkilisi Pōhiva.[2]
Tu’i’onetoa joined the Tonga Civil Service in January 1979. He was the Official Liquidator of the Commercial Division of the Department of Justice in Hamilton, New Zealand. Between 1983 and 2014 he served as Tonga's Auditor. He was a Private Secretary to King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV from 1987–1988, and also clerk to the Privy Council during the same period. He ran unsuccessfully for parliament in the 2010 Tongan general election.
On 27 September 2019, Tu’i’onetoa was elected prime minister by fifteen votes against eight for Semisi Sika, who served as acting prime minister.[8] It was officially announced by King Tupou VI on 9 October 2019.[8] He announced his Cabinet appointments on 10 October.[9]
On 12 January 2021, Tu'i'onetoa survived a confidence vote in Parliament, by 13 votes to 9.[10]
On 29 April 2022, the Supreme Court of Tonga declared his election void after finding he had bribed a women's group by offering them 50,000 Pa'anga.[18][19] The conviction was stayed pending appeal on 26 May 2022.[20] On 9 June 2022 he was again found to have committed bribery in a second election petition.[21][22] On 9 August 2022 the Court of Appeal overturned both petitions.[23][24]
Personal life and death
Tuʻiʻonetoa died on 18 March 2023 in the United States, at the age of 71 while visiting the country for medical reasons.[25][26][27]
.jpg)
