Sione Sangster Saulala
Sangster Saulala | |
---|---|
Sione Vuna Fa'otusia | |
Succeeded by | Paula Piukala |
In office 26 November 2010 – 27 November 2014 | |
Preceded by | none (constituency established) |
Succeeded by | Sione Vuna Fa'otusia |
Personal details | |
Born | 9 April 1974 |
Political party | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands |
Sione Sangster Saulala (born 9 April 1974[1]) is a Tongan politician, broadcaster, and Cabinet Minister. He was a member of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands early in his political career.
Personal background
He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, Politics and Business Management from the University of the South Pacific, and a Diploma in Education from the Tonga Teaching Training College.[1]
Saulala is the manager of the
In 2007 Saulala served as chair of the Tonga Rugby Union.[5] He was re-elected in 2009 but his election was disputed.[5][6]
Political career
He contested the 2005 elections, standing in Vava'u, and the 2008 elections, standing in Tongatapu,[7] but was unsuccessful. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga in the seat of Tongatapu 7 in the 2010 elections.[8]
In October 2011, he introduced a controversial Arms and Ammunitions (Amendment) Bill to Parliament as a
On 5 July 2012 Saulala joined the cabinet of Lord Tuʻivakanō as Minister for Agriculture, Food, Forests and Fisheries, but quit the day after he was appointed.[11] A week later, he returned to the position.[12]
He was not re-elected in the 2014 Tongan general election. He regained his seat in the 2021 election.[13] On 28 December 2021 he was appointed to the Cabinet of Siaosi Sovaleni as Minister of Internal Affairs.[14] On 2 May 2022 he was convicted of two counts of bribery in an election petition and his election was declared void.[15][16] The conviction was stayed pending appeal on 26 May 2022.[17] On 9 August 2022 his appeal was dismissed, and his election confirmed as void.[18][19] He was formally unseated by Parliament on 10 August.[20]
References
- ^ a b "Sione Sangster Saulala" Archived 2012-03-17 at the Wayback Machine, Parliament of Tonga
- ^ "Five people in Tonga charged with contempt of court". RNZ. 2 April 2003. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ^ "TONGA RUGBY CHAIRMAN CHARGED IN NOVEMBER RIOTS". Pacific Islands Report. 3 January 2007. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- ^ "Tonga's judiciary described as independent". RNZ. 16 July 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ^ a b "New appointment to Tonga's Rugby Union Board challenged in court". Radio New Zealand International. 11 February 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ^ "Tonga rugby dispute engulfs PM". RNZ. 28 September 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ^ "Two candidates running in Tonga's election in April appear in court". RNZ. 6 March 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ^ "First election results". MantangiTonga. 25 November 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
- ^ "Tonga democrats hope King will veto bill reducing illegal gun penalties". RNZ. 2 December 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ^ "Democracy at Work? Part II" Archived 2011-11-22 at the Wayback Machine, Lopeti Senituli, Taimi Media Network, 17 November 2011
- ^ "Saulala quits Tonga government a day after appointment". RNZ. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ^ "Tonga opposition MP Saulala becomes government minister". RNZ. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ^ "Tonga elects all-male parliament with nine new People's Reps". Matangi Tonga. 18 November 2021. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ "PM names new government". Matangi Tonga. 29 December 2021. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ "Saulala 'commits bribery', court says : another Tongan MP loses seat in election petitions". Kaniva Tonga. 2 May 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ "Court finds Sangster Saulala committed bribery, Tongatapu no. 7 PR election void". Matangi Tonga. 2 May 2022. Archived from the original on 2 May 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ "Convicted Tongan MPs given stay by appeals". RNZ. 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "Appeals dismissed, three Cabinet Ministers elections void". Matangi Tonga. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ "Tonga court dismisses three Cabinet Ministers' electoral fraud appeals; upholds former PM's appeal". Kaniva Tonga. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ "Three Cabinet Ministers unseated". Matangi Tonga. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.