Paula Piukala
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Paula Piukala | |
|---|---|
| Minister for Public Enterprises | |
| Assumed office 28 January 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Siaosi Sovaleni |
| Minister for Police, Fire & Emergency Services | |
| Assumed office 28 January 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Siaosi Sovaleni |
| Member of the Tongan Parliament for Tongatapu 7 | |
| Assumed office 3 November 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Sione Sangster Saulala |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands |
Paula Piveni Piukala is a Tongan politician and Cabinet Minister. He is a member of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.
Piukala works in the information technology industry, including as a computer systems manager for Shoreline Group. In March 2005 he became a whistleblower against Shoreline, alleging financial mismanagement, falsified audits, and exorbitant salaries paid to the company's executives, which included Crown Prince Tupouto‘a (later George Tupou V).[1] The allegations led to a court case and protests against Shoreline from the Human Rights and Democracy Movement.[1] He later worked as director of Tonga Cable.[2]
At the 2021 Tongan general election he sought the PTOA nomination for Tongatapu 7, but a factional dispute inside the PTOA saw him lose to Sione Sangster Saulala.[3] He contested the election anyway, but lost.[4] Following the election he challenged Saulala's election in court,[5] resulting in the latter's election being voided for bribery.[6][7][8] Piukala was elected in the subsequent 2022 Tongatapu 7 by-election.[9][10]
In February 2024 he was suspended from parliament for seven days after offending Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni during a heated debate on Lulutai Airlines.[11] The suspension was later reduced, and Piukala resumed his seat on 26 February.[12]
On 28 January 2025 he was appointed to the cabinet of ʻAisake Eke as Minister for Public Enterprises and Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services.[13]
He was re-elected at the 2025 election.[14]
