Sēmisi Sika

{{short description|Tongan politician}} {{use dmy dates|date=June 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Sēmisi Sika |image = Semisi Sika May 2019.jpg |caption = Sika in May 2019 |office = Acting Prime Minister of Tonga |status = |monarch = Tupou VI |predecessor = ʻAkilisi Pōhiva |successor = Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa |term_start = 12 September 2019 |term_end = 8 October 2019 |office2 = Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga |term_start2 = 16 January 2018 |term_end2 = 10 October 2019 |prime_minister2 = ʻAkilisi Pōhiva |predecessor2 = Lord Maʻafu |successor2 = Sione Vuna Fa'otusia |office3 = Minister of Infrastructure and Tourism |deputy3 = |term_start3 = 18 April 2016 |term_end3 = 10 October 2019 |prime_minister3 = ʻAkilisi Pōhiva |predecessor3 = ‘Etuate Lavulavu (Infrastructure) Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa (Tourism) |successor3 = 'Akosita Lavulavu |constituency_MP5 = Tongatapu 2 |parliament5 = Tongan |term_start5 = 20 November 2025 |term_end5 = |predecessor5 = ʻUhilamoelangi Fasi |successor5 = |term_start6 = 26 November 2010 |term_end6 = 18 November 2021 |predecessor6 = New constituency |successor6 = ʻUhilamoelangi Fasi |party = Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|1|31|df=y}} |alma_mater = Brigham 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.<ref name="parlbio">{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.gov.to/members-of-parliament/peoples/139-semisi-sika |title=Semisi Sika |publisher=Parliament of Tonga |date= |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327121806/https://www.parliament.gov.to/members-of-parliament/peoples/139-semisi-sika |archivedate=27 March 2020 |accessdate=20 June 2020}}</ref> Before entering politics he worked as a teacher and travel agent,<ref name="parlbio"/> and ran a takeaway shop and catering firm.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2010/11/tongan-election-independent-power-brokers-may-hold-key-to-choice-of-pm/ |title=Tongan elections: Independent power brokers may hold key to choice of PM |author=Pesi Fonua |publisher=Pacific Scoop |date=2010-11-26 |accessdate=2010-12-02}}</ref> He is a longstanding supporter of the democratic movement in Tonga.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://forums.planet-tonga.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=29046 |title=Planet Tonga Exclusive Interview with Semisi Sika |publisher=Planet Tonga |date=2006-11-22 |accessdate=2010-12-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715091824/http://forums.planet-tonga.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=29046 |archive-date=2011-07-15 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.tahitipresse.pf/2007/02/tonga-protest-leaders-plead-not-guilty/ |title=Tonga protest leaders plead not guilty |publisher=Tahiti Presse |date=2007-02-12 |accessdate=2010-12-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723093558/http://en.tahitipresse.pf/2007/02/tonga-protest-leaders-plead-not-guilty/ |archive-date=2011-07-23 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He was found not guilty and discharged.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/2007/05/08/noted-tonga-lawmaker-fined-196-urging-protest |title=NOTED TONGA LAWMAKER FINED $196 FOR URGING PROTEST |publisher=Pacific Islands Report |date=8 May 2007 |accessdate=22 June 2020}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.looptonga.com/content/semisi-sika-appointed-tonga%E2%80%99s-minister-infrastructure-and-tourism |title=Semisi Sika appointed Tonga's Minister of Infrastructure and Tourism |publisher=Loop Tonga |date=20 April 2016 |accessdate=20 June 2020}}</ref>

Following the 2017 election Sika was appointed Deputy Prime Minister.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://asiapacificreport.nz/2018/01/04/prime-minister-pohiva-submits-his-cabinet-lineup-to-the-tongan-king/ |title=Prime Minister Pōhiva submits his cabinet lineup to the Tongan king |publisher=Asia-Pacific Report |date=4 January 2018 |accessdate=20 June 2020}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/beauty/114046082/auckland-pageant-queen-publicly-hits-out-at-bullies |title=Auckland pageant queen publicly hits out at bullies |publisher=Stuff |date=6 July 2019 |accessdate=20 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=12247476 |title=Tongan beauty queen's bullying claim prompts calls for deputy PM's resignation |author=Kalafi Moala |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=8 July 2019 |accessdate=20 June 2020}}</ref>

He became acting premier following the death of Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva on 12 September 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/398621/tongan-pm-akilisi-pohiva-dies-aged-78 |title=Tongan PM 'Akilisi Pohiva dies, aged 78 |publisher=RNZ |date=12 September 2019 |accessdate=12 September 2019}}</ref> He contested the Premiership, but was defeated by Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa by eight votes to fifteen.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news |url=https://theworldnews.net/to-news/parliament-elects-dr-pohiva-tu-i-onetoa-as-new-pm |title=Parliament elects Dr Pōhiva Tu‘i‘onetoa as new PM |date=26 September 2019 |website=The World News |access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref> Sika led the PTOA.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/414934/reports-of-a-rift-in-tonga-s-democratic-party |title=Reports of a rift in Tonga's Democratic Party |publisher=RNZ |date=23 April 2020 |accessdate=20 June 2020}}</ref>

In December 2020 he submitted a motion of no-confidence in Prime Minister Tuʻiʻonetoa.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/432824/tonga-deputy-pm-resigns-amidst-no-confidence-motion |title=Tonga Deputy PM resigns amidst no confidence motion |publisher=RNZ |date=14 December 2020 |accessdate=14 December 2020}}</ref>

He contested the 2021 Tongan general election, but was unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://matangitonga.to/2021/11/19/tonga-elects-all-male-parliament-nine-new-peoples-reps |title=Tonga elects all-male parliament with nine new People's Reps |publisher=Matangi Tonga |date=18 November 2021 |access-date=18 November 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118122442/https://matangitonga.to/2021/11/19/tonga-elects-all-male-parliament-nine-new-peoples-reps |archive-date=18 November 2021}}</ref> He was re-elected in the 2025 election.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://matangitonga.to/2025/11/20/seven-mps-lose-seats-poor-turnout-general-election |title=Seven MPs lose seats in poor turnout General Election |publisher=Matangi Tonga |date=20 November 2025 |access-date=20 November 2025}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-par|to}} |- {{s-non|reason=Constituency Established}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for Tongatapu 2|years=2010–2021}} {{s-aft|after=ʻUhilamoelangi Fasi}} |- {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=‘Etuate Lavulavu (Infrastructure) Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa (Tourism)}} {{s-ttl|title=Minister of Infrastructure and Tourism|years=2016–2019}} {{s-aft|after='Akosita Lavulavu}} |- {{s-bef|before=Lord Maʻafu}} {{s-ttl|title=Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga|years=2018–2019}} {{s-aft|after=Sione Vuna Faʻotusia}} |- {{s-bef|before=ʻAkilisi Pōhiva}} {{s-ttl|title=Acting Prime Minister of Tonga|years=2019}} {{s-aft|after=Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sika, Semisi Kioa Lafu}} Category:1968 births Category:Living people Category:Tongan politicians Category:Prime ministers of Tonga Category:Deputy prime ministers of Tonga Category:Members of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga Category:Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands politicians Category:Tongan businesspeople Category:People from Tongatapu Category:Brigham Young University–Hawaii alumni