A second potential candidate has withdrawn from the Tongatapu 2 by-election to support Dr Malakai Koloamatangi after the pair reached an apparent political understanding centred on completing Tonga’s unfinished 2010 democratic reforms.
The by-election was triggered after the seats for Tongatapu 2 and Ongo Niua 17 were vacated by former MPs Sēmisi Sika and Lataifaingataʻa Tangimana, respectively. Both vacancies arose from court rulings linked to the 2025 general election.
Sika was found guilty of failing to report his full election expenses, while Tangimana was found guilty of bribery.
Parliament formally unseated the pair on August 3, disqualifying them from contesting an election for five years.
Fonua withdraws, endorses Koloamatangi
Lawyer Sione Fonua revealed yesterday that he had intended to contest the October 8 by-election but decided to withdraw after holding discussions with Koloamatangi.
“I held discussions with Malakai Koloamatangi and gave considerable thought to the Tongatapu 2 by-election scheduled for October 8,” Fonua said.
“I subsequently decided not to contest the by-election and instead to support Mafua—Malakai Koloamatangi.”
Fonua said their discussions focused on developing a strategy to complete the reforms introduced in 2010.
“A party system will be one of the mechanisms used to advance this work,” he said.
“I will step back and focus on building the Langafonua Tu’uloa Party to serve the King and the people of Tonga as a whole.”
Although Fonua did not describe the understanding as a formal deal, his statement indicates that his withdrawal and endorsement of Koloamatangi were connected to their agreement to pursue further democratic reform.
Dr Malakai Koloamatangi is a political scientist who spent much of his professional career studying and working at universities in New Zealand.
Second candidate steps aside
Fonua’s withdrawal follows a similar announcement by another potential candidate, Soane Patita Vakautafefine Fifita, who said earlier this month that he would not contest the seat and would instead support Koloamatangi.
The two withdrawals could consolidate support behind Koloamatangi before candidate nominations open on September 2 and 3.
Koloamatangi has said his campaign platform includes proposing parliamentary debate on completing what he regards as the unfinished or problematically structured democratic reforms of 2010.
The Tonga Electoral Commission has scheduled by-elections for Tongatapu 2 and ʻOngo Niua 17 for October 8 following the issuance of the writ by King Tupou VI on August 7. The Electoral Commission’s announcement
Problems identified after reform
Tonga’s 2010 reforms transferred much of the monarch’s executive authority to an elected government, increased the number of people’s representatives to 17 and allowed elected MPs to choose the Prime Minister.
However, problems with the new constitutional structure emerged soon after Lord Tuʻivakanō formed the first government under the reformed system.
The government commissioned Commonwealth constitutional lawyer Peter Pursglove to review the constitutional and judicial arrangements. His report was tabled in Parliament, and a copy was presented to King Tupou VI.
Pursglove concluded that Tonga’s Constitution could claim to be among the most poorly structured and drafted constitutions in the Commonwealth. He also warned that the 2010 changes had weakened the earlier protections supporting judicial independence.
Speaking to RNZ in 2014, Pursglove warned that the problems would worsen unless corrective changes were made.
“It’s pretty obvious that the system isn’t working, it will only get worse and somebody has to bite the bullet and face reality and make the changes,” he said.
Fonua’s withdrawal now places the completion of those reforms at the centre of Koloamatangi’s campaign and raises the prospect of a broader political organisation being developed around that objective.
