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17 of the 26 seats in the Legislative Assembly | |||||||||||||||||||
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Turnout | 61.92% | ||||||||||||||||||
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Constitution |
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Administrative divisions |
General elections were held in Tonga on 18 November 2021 to elect 17 of the 26 seats in the Legislative Assembly.[1]
Following the elections, four MPs were unseated for bribery.[2]
The 2017 general election resulted in a landslide victory for the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (Tongan: Paati Temokalati ʻa e ʻOtu Motu ʻAngaʻofa, or PTOA),[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]
The Legislative Assembly of Tonga has up to 30 members, of whom 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] Around 60,000 voters were eligible to vote.[21]
Parliament was dissolved on 16 September.[22] 75 candidates, including 12 women, registered to contest the election.[23][24] One candidate, Sione Fonua, later withdrew, while a second one died, leaving 73 candidates in total.[25] Despite a week-long lockdown due to a COVID-19 case, the election was not delayed.[26]
Prime Minister Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa did not promote his Tonga People's Party during the campaign, and several Ministers ran as independents.[27]
Voters elected an all-male parliament, with nine new people's representatives.[28] 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.[29] While the PTOA won majorities in most constituencies, vote-splitting between the rival factions saw them lose seats to independent candidates.[30] Only three PTOA candidates were elected: Semisi Fakahau, Veivosa Taka and Saia Piukala.[31] The People's Party formally retained only one seat,[32] but may name its members after the elections.[33]
The Electoral Commission reported that voter turnout was 62%.[34]
Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | 3 | –11 | |||
Tonga People's Party | 1 | New | |||
Independents | 13 | +10 | |||
Nobles' representatives | 9 | 0 | |||
Total | 26 | – | |||
Total votes | 38,550 | – | |||
Registered voters/turnout | 62,253 | 61.92 |
Constituency | Elected | Party[31][32] | Votes |
---|---|---|---|
Tongatapu 1 | Tēvita Fatafehi Puloka | Independent | 1,695 |
Tongatapu 2 | ʻUhilamoelangi Fasi | Independent | 962 |
Tongatapu 3 | Siaosi Sovaleni | Independent | 2,084 |
Tongatapu 4 | Tatafu Moeaki | Independent | 1,237 |
Tongatapu 5 | ʻAisake Eke | Independent | 958 |
Tongatapu 6 | Poasi Tei | Independent[27] | 1,771 |
Tongatapu 7 | Sione Sangster Saulala | Independent | 810 |
Tongatapu 8 | Semisi Fakahau | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | 1,020 |
Tongatapu 9 | Sevenitini Toumoʻua | Independent | 828 |
Tongatapu 10 | Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa | Tonga People's Party | 1,303 |
ʻEua 11 | Taniela Fusimalohi | Independent | 1,072 |
Haʻapai 12 | Viliami Hingano | Independent | 475 |
Haʻapai 13 | Veivosa Taka | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | 731 |
Vavaʻu 14 | Saia Piukala | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | 1,010 |
Vavaʻu 15 | Samiu Vaipulu | Independent | 747 |
Vavaʻu 16 | Viliami Latu | Independent | 1,047 |
Ongo Niua 17 | Vatau Hui | Independent[27] | 367 |
Source: [29] |
Constituency | Elected | Votes |
---|---|---|
‘Eua | Lord Nuku | 11 |
Ha‘apai | Lord Tu‘iha‘angana | 5 |
Fatafehi Fakafanua | 4 | |
Niuas | Prince Fotofili | 2 |
Tongatapu | Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō | 12 |
ʻAlipate Tuʻivanuavou Vaea | 13 | |
Sione Siale Fohe | 10 | |
Vavaʻu | Malakai Fakatoufifita | 8 |
Tonga Tuʻiʻafitu | 9 | |
Source: Matangi Tonga |
Following the election Viliami Tangi was appointed interim Speaker.[35] Three candidates initially announced their candidacy for Prime Minister: Interim Prime Minister Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa, former Finance Minister ʻAisake Eke, and former Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni.[36][37] Tuʻiʻonetoa later withdrew his candidacy, leaving Sovaleni as the frontrunner.[38]
The Legislative Assembly met on 15 December to elect a Prime Minister, with both Sovaleni and Eke being nominated.[39] Sovaleni was elected with 16 votes.[40][41] Fatafehi Fakafanua was re-elected as Speaker.[42] Sovaleni was formally appointed Prime Minister on 27 December,[43] and announced his cabinet on 29 December.[44][45] parliament was formally opened on 11 January 2022.[46]
Following the election Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa was found guilty of bribery in an election petition and stripped of his seat.[47][48] Sangster Saulala was found guilty of two counts of bribery on 2 May 2022 and his election declared void.[49][50] Tatafu Moeaki was found guilty of bribery on 6 May,[51] and Poasi Tei on 13 May.[52] Election petitions against Tevita Puloka and 'Uhilamoelangi Fasi were unsuccessful.[2] On 26 May 2022 the convictions were stayed pending appeal.[53] On 9 August 2022 the appeals by Saulala, Tei and Moeaki were dismissed, and their elections were confirmed as void.[54] Tu’i’onetoa's appeal was upheld and he remains in parliament.[55][56] Saulala, Tei and Moeaki were formally unseated by Parliament and their seats declared vacant on 10 August,[57] sparking the 2022 Tongatapu by-elections.[58]