Pōle’o told Kanva News this morning the Speaker of the House, Lord Tuʻivakanō and the Electoral Commissioner Pita Vuki had made the decision in a meeting they held yesterday.
Pōleʻo said the by-election for Tongatapu 4 will possibly be held in May if the Court of Appeal will rule against Tapueluelu’s appeal.
Kaniva News understands the decision to delay the by-election based on the fact that Tapueluelu has appealed his disqualification as an MP was a conclusion mutually agreed by the Speaker and the Electoral Commissioner.
Tonga’s Acting Attorney General ‘Aminiasi Kefu said there was no part in Tongan laws or constitution that say a by-election must be pended if a respondent like Tapueluelu lodged an appeal after a court decision disqualified his parliamentary seat.
However Kefu said he advised the Speaker of the House to postpone the by-election until the Appeal Court made a decision on Tapueluelu’s appeal.