Sēmisi Sika

Sēmisi Sika
Sika in May 2019
Acting Prime Minister of Tonga
In office
12 September 2019 – 8 October 2019
MonarchTupou VI
Preceded byʻAkilisi Pōhiva
Succeeded byPōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa
Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga
In office
16 January 2018 – 10 October 2019
Prime MinisterʻAkilisi Pōhiva
Preceded byLord Maʻafu
Succeeded bySione Vuna Fa'otusia
Minister of Infrastructure and Tourism
In office
18 April 2016 – 10 October 2019
Prime MinisterʻAkilisi Pōhiva
Preceded by‘Etuate Lavulavu (Infrastructure)
Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa (Tourism)
Succeeded by'Akosita Lavulavu
Member of the Tongan Parliament
for Tongatapu 2
In office
20 November 2025 – 3 August 2026
Preceded byʻUhilamoelangi Fasi
In office
26 November 2010 – 18 November 2021
Preceded byNew constituency
Succeeded byʻUhilamoelangi Fasi
Personal details
Born (1968-01-31) 31 January 1968
PartyIndependent
EducationBrigham Young University–Hawaii

Sēmisi Kioa Lafu Sika (born 31 January 1968) is a Tongan politician, businessman, and former member of the Tongan Parliament from 2010 to 2021. He served as acting prime minister in September 2019, following the death of ʻAkilisi Pōhiva.

Career and activism

Sika is from Haveluloto, and was educated at Brigham Young University–Hawaii, gaining a Bachelor of Science.[1] Before entering politics he worked as a teacher and travel agent,[1] and ran a takeaway shop and catering firm.[2] He is a longstanding supporter of the democratic movement in Tonga.[3] In 2007 he was one of three people, including Human Rights and Democracy Movement leader ʻAkilisi Pōhiva, who were prosecuted for their leadership of a protest march in June 2006.[4] He was found not guilty and discharged.[5]

Political career

A member of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands, Sika was elected to Parliament in the seat of Tongatapu 2 in the 2010 elections. He was re-elected in the 2014 and became Chairman of the Committee of the Whole House. In April 2016 he was appointed Minister of Tourism and Infrastructure.[6]

Following the 2017 election Sika was appointed Deputy Prime Minister.[7] in July 2019 there were calls for his resignation after he intervened to silence a speech against bullying and sexism at the Miss Pacific pageant in Tonga.[8][9]

He became acting premier following the death of Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva on 12 September 2019.[10] He contested the Premiership, but was defeated by Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa by eight votes to fifteen.[11] Sika led the PTOA.[12]

In December 2020 he submitted a motion of no-confidence in Prime Minister Tuʻiʻonetoa.[13]

He contested the 2021 Tongan general election, but was unsuccessful.[14]

During the 2025 general election, Sika recaptured the Tongatapu 2 seat, receiving 55% of the vote. He defeated the incumbent representative, Education Minister ʻUhilamoelangi Fasi, who garnered 44%.[15][16] The election produced a parliament composed entirely of independents, with the PTOA failing to capture any seats for the first time since its foundation.[17][18] Sika endorsed incumbent ʻAisake Eke for another term in the prime ministerial vote in parliament, held on 15 December.[19] Eke, however, went on to lose to Fatafehi Fakafānua.[20] Despite not supporting him, Fakafānua appointed Sika to his cabinet, assigning him the infrastructure and tourism portfolios.[21] Sika was sworn in on 6 January 2026, along with most of the new cabinet.[22]

Fasi filed a lawsuit after the election, alleging that Sika had exceeded the 20,000 paʻanga campaign spending limit in breach of the Electoral Act. The Supreme Court found him guilty on 8 May. Sika said he did not expect the conviction, but that he would respect the ruling.[23] Sika appealed the case; however, the Court of Appeal upheld the ruling, triggering a by-election in Tongatapu 2.[24] Sika resigned from cabinet on 27 July,[25] and he was formally unseated from parliament on 3 August.[26]

References

  1. 1 2 "Semisi Sika". Parliament of Tonga. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  2. ↑ Pesi Fonua (26 November 2010). "Tongan elections: Independent power brokers may hold key to choice of PM". Pacific Scoop. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  3. ↑ "Planet Tonga Exclusive Interview with Semisi Sika". Planet Tonga. 22 November 2006. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  4. ↑ "Tonga protest leaders plead not guilty". Tahiti Presse. 12 February 2007. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  5. ↑ "NOTED TONGA LAWMAKER FINED $196 FOR URGING PROTEST". Pacific Islands Report. 8 May 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  6. ↑ "Semisi Sika appointed Tonga's Minister of Infrastructure and Tourism". Loop Tonga. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  7. ↑ "Prime Minister Pōhiva submits his cabinet lineup to the Tongan king". Asia-Pacific Report. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  8. ↑ "Auckland pageant queen publicly hits out at bullies". Stuff. 6 July 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  9. ↑ Kalafi Moala (8 July 2019). "Tongan beauty queen's bullying claim prompts calls for deputy PM's resignation". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  10. ↑ "Tongan PM 'Akilisi Pohiva dies, aged 78". RNZ. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  11. ↑ "Parliament elects Dr Pōhiva Tu'i'onetoa as new PM". The World News. 26 September 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  12. ↑ "Reports of a rift in Tonga's Democratic Party". RNZ. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  13. ↑ "Tonga Deputy PM resigns amidst no confidence motion". RNZ. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  14. ↑ "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.
  15. ↑ "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.
  16. ↑ "2025 General Parliamentary Elections" (PDF). Tonga Electoral Commission. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 February 2026. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  17. ↑ 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.
  18. ↑ Motulalo, Tevita (24 November 2025). "Commentary:Voters Reject PTOA as a New Political Era Emerges". Tonga Independent. Archived from the original on 28 January 2026. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  19. ↑ "Eke and Fakafanua confirmed as candidates for Tonga's prime minister". Talanoa oʻ Tonga. 15 December 2025. Archived from the original on 2 January 2026. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  20. ↑ Vailala, Alakihihifo (15 December 2025). "Lord Fakafanua is Tonga's new PM". Pacific Media Network. Archived from the original on 10 February 2026. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  21. ↑ "Lord Fakafanua names new Cabinet". Matangi Tonga. Nukuʻalofa. 5 January 2026. Archived from the original on 5 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  22. ↑ "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.
  23. ↑ "Supreme Court finds Hon. Semisi Sika exceeded campaign spending limit". Tonga Broadcasting Commission. 8 May 2025. Archived from the original on 21 August 2026. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  24. ↑ Folau, Linny (24 July 2026). "Former Tongatapu 2 PR, Semisi Sika, losses appeal". Matangi Tonga. Nukuʻalofa. Archived from the original on 27 July 2026. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  25. ↑ "Semisi Sika bids farewell to Cabinet ahead of Tongatapu 2 by-election". Talanoa. 27 July 2026. Archived from the original on 21 August 2026. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  26. ↑ 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.
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