2005 Tongan general election
General elections were held in Tonga on 17 March 2005. Only nine members of the 30-seat parliament were elected, the rest appointed by the King or were members of the Tongan aristocracy. The Human Rights and Democracy Movement won seven of the nine seats. 'Aho'eitu 'Unuaki'otonga Tuku'aho, son of the King, initially retained his position as Prime Minister, but he resigned in 2006, with the position passing to Feleti Sevele, one of the two independent candidates elected. Sevele is the first non-noble Prime Minister of the country.
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9 of 30 seats in the Legislative Assembly | |||||||||||||||||
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| Constitution |
| Administrative divisions |
Results
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| Party | Votes | % | Seats | |
| Human Rights and Democracy Movement | 35,200 | 44.95 | 7 | |
| Independents | 43,117 | 55.05 | 2 | |
| Nobles' representatives | 9 | |||
| Royal appointeees | 12 | |||
| Total | 78,317 | 100.00 | 30 | |
| Total votes | 33,119 | – | ||
| Registered voters/turnout | 65,555 | 50.52 | ||
| Source: Psephos, IPU | ||||
By constituency
| Constituency | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eua | Sunia Fili | Human Rights and Democracy Movement | 1,314 | 52.5 | Elected |
| Sefesi Tupou Kanongata'a Hausia | Independent | 804 | 32.1 | ||
| Finau Sakea Fusitu'a | Independent | 269 | 10.8 | ||
| Sione 'Ofa Vaka'uta | Independent | 115 | 4.6 | ||
| Ha'apai | 'Uliti Uata | Human Rights and Democracy Movement | 2,627 | 28.0 | Elected |
| Fineasi Funaki | Human Rights and Democracy Movement | 2,072 | 22.1 | Elected | |
| 'Osaiasi Latu | Independent | 1,959 | 20.9 | ||
| Mo’ale Finau | Independent | 919 | 9.8 | ||
| Sione Talanoa Fifita | Independent | 858 | 9.2 | ||
| Sailosi Vea Fanua | Independent | 735 | 7.8 | ||
| Langilangi Vimahi | Independent | 198 | 2.1 | ||
| Niuas | Sione Peauafi Haukinima | Human Rights and Democracy Movement | 709 | 69.9 | Elected |
| 'Aisea Ta’ofi | Independent | 204 | 20.1 | ||
| 'Oketi Lotulelei 'Akau'ola | Independent | 60 | 5.9 | ||
| Paula Palelei | Independent | 42 | 4.1 | ||
| Tongatapu | 'Akilisi Pohiva | Human Rights and Democracy Movement | 11,103 | 21.8 | Elected |
| 'Isileli Pulu | Human Rights and Democracy Movement | 8,008 | 15.7 | Elected | |
| Feleti Sevele | Human Rights and Democracy Movement | 7,499 | 14.7 | Elected | |
| Clive Edwards | Independent | 3,546 | 7.0 | ||
| Fuiva Ruby Adeline Kavaliku | Independent | 3,161 | 6.0 | ||
| Mateitalo F. Mahu'inga | Independent | 2,937 | 5.8 | ||
| Lopeti Senituli | Independent | 2,819 | 5.5 | ||
| Semisi Kailahi | Independent | 1,986 | 3.9 | ||
| Simione Kau Silapelu | Independent | 1,544 | 3.0 | ||
| Semisi P I Tapueluelu | Independent | 1,528 | 3.0 | ||
| Mateaki Heimuli | Independent | 1,400 | 2.7 | ||
| 'Alisi Pone Fotu | Independent | 952 | 1.9 | ||
| Mumui Tatola | Independent | 719 | 1.4 | ||
| Sela Lopa Kaisinga | Independent | 508 | 1.0 | ||
| Kamipeli Tofa'imala'e'aloa | Independent | 387 | 0.8 | ||
| 'Alani Fisher Taione | Independent | 364 | 0.7 | ||
| Tupou Malohi | Independent | 318 | 0.6 | ||
| Siosifa Filini Sikuea | Independent | 257 | 0.5 | ||
| Siale Christopher Kava | Independent | 248 | 0.5 | ||
| 'Aisake Fa'alongo Filimone | Independent | 235 | 0.5 | ||
| Salesi Kauvaka | Independent | 231 | 0.5 | ||
| Sione Tu'i'onetoa | Independent | 202 | 0.4 | ||
| Hoatatau Tenisi | Independent | 194 | 0.4 | ||
| Penisila Save | Independent | 178 | 0.3 | ||
| Lesinali Tovo Faleafa | Independent | 165 | 0.3 | ||
| Kelepi V. Lamipeti | Independent | 157 | 0.3 | ||
| Semisi Nauto Tu'apasi 'Ata'ata | Independent | 133 | 0.3 | ||
| Taholo Lelea Kolovai | Independent | 128 | 0.3 | ||
| Sione Lolo Mataele | Independent | 87 | 0.2 | ||
| Vahefonua Vava'u | Samiu Vaipulu | Independent | 2,272 | 15.7 | Elected |
| Viliami Kaufusi Helu | Independent | 2,060 | 14.3 | Elected | |
| Sione Sangster Saulala | Independent | 1,908 | 13.2 | ||
| 'Etuate Sungalu Lavulavu | Independent | 1,772 | 12.3 | ||
| Masao Paasi | Independent | 1,490 | 10.3 | ||
| Peauafi Tatafu | Human Rights and Democracy Movement | 1,308 | 9.1 | ||
| Sione Sosefo Mailangi | Independent | 674 | 4.7 | ||
| Makelesi Funaki | Independent | 562 | 3.9 | ||
| Kauhenga Kata | Human Rights and Democracy Movement | 560 | 3.9 | ||
| 'Alamoti Tautakitaki | Independent | 556 | 3.9 | ||
| Sione Finau Lauti | Independent | 405 | 2.8 | ||
| Viliami Politoni Sapoi | Independent | 188 | 1.3 | ||
| 'Aliki Halahekeheke Sika | Independent | 152 | 1.1 | ||
| Sione Katalau Veleika | Independent | 150 | 1.0 | ||
| Pesa Lau'I | Independent | 148 | 1.0 | ||
| Makasini Fonua | Independent | 140 | 1.0 | ||
| 'Inoke Fotu | Independent | 93 | 0.6 | ||
| Source: Psephos | |||||
Aftermath
By-election were held on 5 May 2005 to fill vacancies in Tongatapu and Niuas following the appointment of Feleti Sevele and Sione Haukinima to the cabinet. Former Police Minister Clive Edwards was elected in Tongatapu,[1] and Lepolo Taunisila was elected in Niuas.
A third by-election was held on 20 July 2006 for the Ha'apai electorate after Fineasi Funaki was appointed as Minister of Tourism.[2] The election was won by 'Osai Laatu.[3]
References
- "Matangi Tonga: Tongatapu by-election 5 May 2005". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2008.
- "Tonga holds by-election". Radio New Zealand International. 20 July 2006. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
- "Tongan by-election win for 'Osai Laatu". Radio New Zealand International. 21 July 2006. Retrieved 18 November 2010.