Tongatapu 7 Representative Piveni Piukala suspended from Parliament
The Legislative Assembly voted today to suspend Tongatapu 7 Member of Parliament, Piveni Piukala, for offending and disrespecting the Prime Minister. The Speaker of the House, Lord Fakafanua, prohibited Piukala from entering the Legislative Assembly or using any of its facilities or equipment for a period of 7 days. Although the maximum penalty could have been 14 days, Piukala’s punishment was reduced, considering this was his first act of disrespect in the house.
This incident involving the Tongatapu 7 representative, and the Prime Minister of Tonga occurred in August of last year, amid a contentious debate over the purchase of planes by Lulutai airlines, for which the Prime Minister serves as the chairman of the board.
Piukala told the Prime Minister in no uncertain terms, “It is not your grandfather’s money that you can spend as you wish.” This ultimately led to the Prime Minister’s formal complaint to the Speaker about Piukala’s conduct.
The committee’s investigation revealed that, according to the minutes of their meeting, Piukala had the opportunity to refute the statements attributed to him but chose not to. Consequently, the Rights Committee of the Legislative Assembly took up the complaint, presenting their findings in the house that same month. The assembly spent the morning discussing the committee’s recommendations for Piukala’s punishment, yet there was no move to extend it beyond 14 days.
Despite calls from some representatives for Piukala to be given a chance to respond, the government maintained that he had already missed his opportunity by committing the act of disrespect. Mateni Tapueluelu, a member from Tongatapu 4, urged Piukala to apologize, acknowledging the gravity of his actions.
Tevita Puloka from Tongatapu 1 inquired whether Piukala intended to retract his statement, but Piukala showed no inclination to do so, indicating a firm stance on his position.
Piukala views himself not as a troublemaker but as a steadfast individual who, regardless of today’s outcome, is committed to seeing his efforts through to the end, with little concern for the consequences. This resolve has led many to regard him as a ‘Freedom Fighter,’ advocating for the freedom of expression and belief.
