2021 Tongan general election
 | This article documents a current election. Information may change rapidly as the election progresses, until official results have been published. Initial news reports may be unreliable, and the last updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
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17 of the 26 seats in the Legislative Assembly | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Administrative divisions |
General elections will be held in Tonga on 18 November 2021,[1] to elect 17 of the 26 seats to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. A final result is expected on election night at 10pm (UTC+13:00).[2]
Background[edit]
The 2017 general elections results in a landslide victory for the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands,[3] and ʻAkilisi Pōhiva was re-elected as Prime Minister, defeating former Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni 14 votes to 12.[4] In September 2019 Pohiva died,[5] and Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa was elected as Prime Minister with the support of the nobles, independent MPs, and 5 former members of the DPFI.[6][7] His cabinet included three nobles, who had previously been excluded under Pohiva.[8]
In December 2020 Democratic party leader Semisi Sika submitted a motion of no-confidence in Prime Minister Tuʻiʻonetoa.[9] The motion was backed by Deputy Prime Minister Sione Vuna Fa'otusia,[10] who subsequently resigned from Cabinet.[9][11] The Legislative Assembly rejected the no-confidence motion 13-9 on 12 January 2021.[12]
Following ʻAkilisi Pōhiva's death the PTOA fragmented, with rivalries emerging between Siaosi Pohiva and his brother-in-law Mateni Tapueluelu.[13] In the leadup to the election this led to a formal split, with Pohiva leaving the party's board and "core team".[14]
In the leadup to the election Infrastructure and Tourism Minister ʻAkosita Lavulavu and her husband ʻEtuate Lavulavu, who had previously served as a Minister, were both convicted of obtaining money by false pretenses[15][16] and sentenced to six years in prison by the Supreme Court.[17][18]
Electoral system[edit]
The Legislative Assembly of Tonga has up to 30 members, of which 17 are directly elected by first-past-the-post voting from single-member constituencies. The island of Tongatapu has ten constituencies, Vavaʻu three, Haʻapai two and ʻEua and Niuatoputapu/Niuafoʻou one each.[19] Nine seats are held by members of the nobility who elect representatives amongst themselves.[20] The Cabinet formed by a Prime Minister may include up to four members not elected to the Assembly, who then automatically become members of the legislature.[20]
Campaign[edit]
Parliament was dissolved on 16 September.[21] 75 candidates, including 12 women, registered to contest the election.[22][23] One candidate, Sione Fonua, later withdrew, while a second one died, leaving 73 candidates in total.[24] Despite a week-long lockdown due to a COVID-19 case, the election was not delayed.[25]
Results[edit]
Voters elected an all-male parliament, with nine new people's representatives.[26] The leaders of both Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (PTOA), Semisi Sika and Siaosi Pōhiva, lost their seats, as did other senior PTOA MP's.[27] While the PTOA won majorities in most constituencies, vote-splitting between the rival factions saw them lose seats to independent candidates.[28]
The Electoral Comission reported that voter turnout was 62%.[29]
People's seats[edit]
| Constituency | Elected | Party | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tongatapu 1 | Tevita Fatafehi Puloka | 1695 | |
| Tongatapu 2 | ʻUhilamoelangi Fasi | 962 | |
| Tongatapu 3 | Siaosi Sovaleni | Independent | 2084 |
| Tongatapu 4 | Tatafu Moeaki | 1237 | |
| Tongatapu 5 | ʻAisake Eke | Independent | 958 |
| Tongatapu 6 | Poasi Tei | 1771 | |
| Tongatapu 7 | Sione Sangster Saulala | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | 810 |
| Tongatapu 8 | Semisi Fakahau | 1020 | |
| Tongatapu 9 | Sevenitini Toumoʻua | 828 | |
| Tongatapu 10 | Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa | Tonga People's Party | 1303 |
| ʻEua 11 | Taniela Likuʻohihifo Fusimalohi | 1072 | |
| Haʻapai 12 | Viliami Hingano | 475 | |
| Haʻapai 13 | Veivosa Taka | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | 731 |
| Vavaʻu 14 | Saia Piukala | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | 1010 |
| Vavaʻu 15 | Samiu Vaipulu | Independent | 747 |
| Vava‘u 16 | Viliami Latu | 1047 | |
| Ongo Niua 17 | Vatau Hui | 367 | |
| Source: [27] | |||
By constituency[edit]
Nobles[edit]
| Constituency | Elected candidate | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| ‘Eua | Lord Nuku | 11 |
| Ha‘apai | Lord Tu‘iha‘angana | 5 |
| Fatafehi Fakafanua | 4 | |
| Niuatoputapu and Niuafo'ou | Prince Fotofili | 2 |
| Tongatapu | Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō | 12 |
| ʻAlipate Tuʻivanuavou Vaea | 13 | |
| Sione Siale Fohe | 10 | |
| Vava‘u | Malakai Fakatoufifita | 8 |
| Tonga Tuʻiʻafitu | 9 | |
| Source: Matangi Tonga | ||
References[edit]
- ^ Tonga general election set for November 18 Parliament of Tonga, 8 September 2021
- ^ "Polls in Tonga open for 2021 election". RNZ. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ "Landslide victory for Democrats in Tongan election". New Zealand Herald. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ "Pohiva retains Tonga prime ministership". Radio New Zealand. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ "Tongan PM 'Akilisi Pohiva dies, aged 78". Radio New Zealand. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
- ^ "Parliament elects Dr Pōhiva Tu'i'onetoa as new PM". The World News. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
- ^ "Tonga MPs choose Tu'i'onetoa as new prime minister". Radio New Zealand. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "New Tonga PM: 'We need to be united'". Radio New Zealand. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Tonga Deputy PM resigns amidst no confidence motion". Radio New Zealand. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "PM Pōhiva Tu'i'onetoa "has to go" says Deputy PM Vuna Fa'otusia as he and others submit vote of no confidence motion against PM". Kaniva Tonga. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ Pesi Fonua (14 December 2020). "Deputy PM Fa'otusia resigns from Cabinet". Matangi Tonga. Archived from the original on 14 December 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "Tonga's PM survives motion of no confidence". Radio New Zealand. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ^ Kalafi Moala (11 March 2021). "Will the PTOA Party survive the latest crisis in leadership?". Fangongo. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Why Siaosi Pohiva quit the ruling board of PTOA?". Talanoa O Tonga. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Lavulavu couple plundered education fund, used political connections to steal money, Judgment finds". Matangi Tonga. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ "Tongan cabinet minister convicted of major fraud". RNZ. 5 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ "Tongan MP and former MP sentenced to six years jail". RNZ. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
- ^ "Judge points to serious breach of trust in Lavulavu couple's criminal offending". Matangi Tonga. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
- ^ "TONGA (Fale Alea), Electoral system". Inter-Parliamentary Union. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ a b "TONGA (Fale Alea), Last elections". Inter-Parliamentary Union. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ "King Tupou VI: Tonga faces many challenges in election year". Matangi Tonga. 16 September 2021. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ^ "75 candidates register for November 18 General Election". Matangi Tonga. 30 September 2021. Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
- ^ "New-look Tongan parliament likely". RNZ. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
- ^ "Two removed, 73 candidates remain for General Election". Matangi Tonga. 11 November 2021. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ "Tonga's Nov. 18 General Election not delayed". Matangi Tonga. 3 November 2021. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ "Twelve new MPs in Tonga election - but no women elected". RNZ. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Tonga elects all-male parliament with nine new People's Reps". Matangi Tonga. 18 November 2021. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ "A sobering reality hits PTOA after election losses; voters elect nine new faces". Kaniva Tonga. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Election results reveal end to Akalisi Pohiva legacy in Tonga". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
