Lataifaingataʻa Tangimana
Lataifaingataʻa Tangimana | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 5 January 2026 – 15 April 2026 | |
| Prime Minister | Fatafehi Fakafānua |
| Preceded by | ʻAisake Eke |
| Succeeded by | Fatafehi Fakafānua |
| Member of the Tongan Parliament | |
| In office 15 December 2025 – 31 July 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Vatau Hui |
| Constituency | Niua 17 |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Independent |
Lataifaingataʻa Tangimana is a Tongan politician who served as minister of finance from 2025 until his resignation in 2026. He represented the Niua 17 constituency during that time and stepped down following a conviction for election bribery.
Career
Tangimana won the Niua 17 seat in a landslide, with 64% of the vote, during the 2025 general election,[1] which saw independent candidates capture all seats in parliament.[2] He defeated three other candidates, including the incumbent member Vatau Hui.[3][1] Tangimana was subsequently appointed finance minister in the cabinet of the newly elected prime minister, Fatafehi Fakafānua.[4] He was sworn in on 6 January 2026.[5]
Tangimana was convicted of election bribery by the Supreme Court on 24 March and resigned from cabinet on 15 April; however, he remained in parliament while he appealed the conviction. Prime Minister Fakafānua assumed the finance portfolio thereafter.[6] The court denied his appeal on 27 July, voiding his election.[7] Tangimana resigned from the Legislative Assembly on 31 July, shortly before he was scheduled to be removed on 3 August, triggering a by-election in the Niua 17 seat.[8]
References
- 1 2 "2025 General Parliamentary Elections" (PDF). Tonga Electoral Commission. p. 17. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 February 2026. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ Ivarature, Ema; Katoa, ʻAkanesi; Ivarature, Henry (12 December 2025). "Tonga's elections at a democratic crossroads". East Asia Forum. Canberra. Archived from the original on 15 December 2025. Retrieved 15 December 2025 – via Matangi Tonga.
- ↑ "Seven MPs lose seats in poor turnout General Election". Matangi Tonga. Nukuʻalofa. 20 November 2025. Archived from the original on 20 November 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ "Lord Fakafanua names new Cabinet". Matangi Tonga. Nukuʻalofa. 5 January 2026. Archived from the original on 5 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ↑ "Govt swears in new Cabinet to start term". Talanoa ʻo Tonga. 7 January 2026. Archived from the original on 7 January 2026. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ↑ Polutele, Liliani (15 April 2026). "Niua 17 Representative Lataifaingata'a Tangimana, resigns as Minister of Finance". Tonga Broadcasting Commission. Archived from the original on 21 August 2026. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
- ↑ Folau, Linny (27 July 2026). "Former Niuas 17 People's Rep loses appeal, election remains void". Matangi Tonga. Nukuʻalofa. Archived from the original on 27 July 2026. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ Siasau, Katalina (3 August 2026). "Legislative Assembly unseats two Members of Parliament". Matangi Tonga. Nukuʻalofa. Archived from the original on 3 August 2026. Retrieved 21 August 2026.