On 27 September 2019, Tu’i’onetoa was elected prime minister by fifteen votes against eight for
Semisi Sika, who served as acting prime minister. It was officially announced by King
Tupou VI on 9 October 2019. On 12 January 2021, Tu'i'onetoa survived a confidence vote in Parliament, by 13 votes to 9. Tuʻiʻonetoa was re-elected to parliament in the
2021 election, and announced his candidacy for re-election as prime minister, but later withdrew as a contender to back
ʻAisake Eke. He was succeeded as prime minister by
Siaosi Sovaleni. On 29 April 2022, the
Supreme Court of Tonga declared his election void after finding he had bribed a women's group by offering them 50,000
Pa'anga. The conviction was stayed pending appeal on 26 May 2022. On 9 June 2022 he was again found to have committed bribery in a second election petition. On 9 August 2022 the Court of Appeal overturned both petitions. ==Personal life and death==