Deputy PM Fa’otusia resigns from Cabinet [1]
Monday, December 14, 2020 - 14:40. Updated on Monday, December 14, 2020 - 15:16.
By Pesi Fonua
Hon. Vuna Fa’otusia, Tonga’s Minister of Justice and Deputy Prime Minister, resigned from Cabinet on Friday, 11 December, according to a reliable government source.
Hon. Vuna was mentioned as one of the 10 signatories on a letter for a Vote of No Confidence in the Prime Minister, Hon. Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, that was distributed to members of the House, at its last session on Thursday, 10 December.
A tentative date was set by the Speaker of the House, Lord Fakafanua, for the Motion to be tabled into the House on 12 January 2021.
Hon. Vuna Fa’otusia was absent from Parliament for much of this year for medical reasons. He had remained in New Zealand after the COVID-19 border restrictions were introduced in March. He was repatriated to Tonga in November and attended parliament for the first time this year on Thursday, 10 December, after being released from quarantine.
Hon. Vuna Va'otusia has been Tonga's Minister of Justice since January 2015.
He is also facing charges in the Supreme Court, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
See:
Deputy PM returns to Tonga, pleads not guilty on charges in Supreme Court [2]