2017 Tongan general election

General elections were held in Tonga on 16 November 2017[1] to elect 17 of the 26 seats to the Legislative Assembly.[2] King Tupou VI dissolved the Assembly on 25 August 2017 on the advice of its Speaker, Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō, who claimed that Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pohiva was attempting to claim powers held by the King and Privy Council within Cabinet.[3]

2017 Tongan general election

16 November 2017

17 of 26 seats in the Legislative Assembly
  First party
 
Leader ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
Party DPFI
Leader's seat Tongatapu 1
Seats before 9
Seats won 14
Seat change Increase 5

Prime Minister before election

ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
DPFI

Elected Prime Minister

ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
DPFI

Nominations closed on 27 September, with 86 candidates contesting the 17 people's seats.[4] The election resulted in a victory for the DPFI, with ʻAkilisi Pōhiva remaining as Prime Minister.[5]

Electoral system

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.[6] Nine seats are held by members of the nobility who elect representatives amongst themselves.[7] 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.[7]

Results

The Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands won 14 seats, enough to allow them to form a government without needing the support of nobles or independents.[8]

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands14+5
Independents3–5
Nobles' representatives90
Total26
Valid votes39,54599.83
Invalid/blank votes670.17
Total votes39,612100.00
Registered voters/turnout59,00367.14
Source: TEC, IFES

People's Seats

Constituency Elected Party Votes
Tongatapu 1 ʻAkilisi Pōhiva Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands 1,379
Tongatapu 2 Semisi Sika Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands 1,111
Tongatapu 3 Siaosi Sovaleni Independent 1,421
Tongatapu 4 Mateni Tapueluelu Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands 1,469
Tongatapu 5 Losaline Ma‘asi Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands 1,034
Tongatapu 6 Poasi Tei Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands 1,425
Tongatapu 7 Sione Vuna Fa‘otusia Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands 1,273
Tongatapu 8 Semisi Fakahau Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands 1,182
Tongatapu 9 Penisimani Fifita Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands 1,302
Tongatapu 10 Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands 1,631
ʻEua 11 Tevita Lavemaau Independent 789
Haʻapai 12 Moʻale Finau Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands 635
Haʻapai 13 Veivosa Taka Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands 905
Vavaʻu 14 Saia Piukala Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands 1,366
Vavaʻu 15 Samiu Vaipulu Independent 684
Vavaʻu 16 'Akosita Lavulavu Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands 935
Ongo Niua 17 Vatau Hui Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands 438

[9][8]

By constituency

Tongatapu 1
Candidate Votes %
Samuela ʻAkilisi Pohiva1,379
Netatua Pelesikoti Taufatofua352
Sione Tukia279
Ofo-Mei-Vaha Tupou Niumeitolu196
Mosese Teukiveiuto Manuofetoa128
Siotame Drew Havea109
Siale ‘Ataongo Puloka80
‘Ana Kanume Bing Fonua79
Sione Keuate Tupouniua62
Barry Smith Taukolo49
‘Eliesa Fifita14
Invalid/blank votes7
Total2,734100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 2
Candidate Votes %
Semisi Sika1,111
Sione Tu‘itavake Fonua465
Soane Patita Vakautafefine Fifita277
‘Ema Rererangi Fonua Stephenson260
Fisi‘ipeau Faiva20
Invalid/blank votes3
Total2,136100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 3
Candidate Votes %
Siaosi Sovaleni1,421
Tevita Palu932
Katalina Tohi607
Mele Teusivi ‘Amanaki159
Sitiveni Halapua83
Tonga Soane3
Invalid/blank votes5
Total3,210100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 4
Candidate Votes %
Mateni Tapueluelu1,469
Seketi Fo‘ou Fuko388
ʻIsileli Pulu216
Tevita Mateitalo Makameimoana Motulalo138
Poli Tuaileva136
Litia Simpson69
Invalid/blank votes6
Total2,422100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 5
Candidate Votes %
Losaline Ma'asi1,034
ʻAisake Valu Eke953
‘Ana Hau‘alofa‘ia Koloto527
Fe‘ofa‘aki Taufonua Latu311
Viliami Kini Mangisi96
Invalid/blank votes6
Total2,927100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 6
Candidate Votes %
Poasi Tei1,425
Soane Taiofonongahina ‘Ahio672
Siosifa Tuʻitupou Tuʻutafaiva425
Sione Tatafu Angakehe Tafuna325
Fisi‘itotoa ‘Ahohiva Kaufusi75
Invalid/blank votes5
Total2,927100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 7
Candidate Votes %
Sione Vuna Fa'otusia1,273
Sione Sangster Saulala726
Mavaetangi Manavahetau217
Sione Hufanga191
'Olikoni Tanaki133
Talanoa Fuka Kitekei'aho63
Tevita Silatolu9
Invalid/blank votes4
Total2,616100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 8
Candidate Votes %
Semisi Fakahau1,182
Viliami Sisifa596
Penisimani Teisina484
Mosa'ati Vaipulu187
Viliami Kilisimasi Taufa71
Invalid/blank votes6
Total2,526100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 9
Candidate Votes %
Penisimani Fifita1,302
Siamelie Latu537
Vika Vaka Fusimalohi488
Timote Tu'iono Oliveti Laume290
Invalid/blank votes1
Total2,618100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 10
Candidate Votes %
Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa1,631
Soane Kautai593
Loupua Kuli406
Daniel Kimball Fale174
Invalid/blank votes4
Total2,808100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Elections
'Eua 11
Candidate Votes %
Tevita Lavemaau789
Taniela Fusimalohi519
Sunia Manu Fili476
Sunia Kauvaka Havea310
Hale Telepo6
Silivia Loumaile Mahe6
Invalid/blank votes2
Total2,108100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Elections
Ha'apai 12
Candidate Votes %
Moʻale Finau635
Viliami Hingano588
Finau Pulotu Uata371
Invalid/blank votes4
Total1,598100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Elections
Ha'apai 13
Candidate Votes %
Veivosa Taka905
'Esafe Hema Latu589
'Elikisoni Langi97
Invalid/blank votes3
Total1,594100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Elections
Vava'u 14
Candidate Votes %
Saia Piukala1,366
Latu Niua Lepolo495
Matini Fatanitavake Ma'afu-'o-Veikune T. Veikune368
Invalid/blank votes2
Total2,231100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Elections
Vava‘u 15
Candidate Votes %
Samiu Kuita Vaipulu684
Tomifa Fainga‘a Paea608
Kulufeinga ‘Anisi Bloomfield494
Keuli Pasina Lavaki184
Sinali Fe‘iloaki Hansen83
Tongovua Fifita63
Invalid/blank votes5
Total2,121100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Elections
Vava‘u 16
Candidate Votes %
ʻAkosita Lavulavu935
Viliami Uasike Latu748
‘Atalasa Misilemoti Pouvalu296
Viliami Lolohea174
‘Aisea Silivenusi22
Invalid/blank votes5
Total2,180100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Elections
Ongo Niua 17
Candidate Votes %
Vatau Hui438
Sosefo Fe‘aomoeata Vakata419
Invalid/blank votes0
Total857100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Elections

Nobles

Constituency Elected candidate Votes
‘EuaLord Nuku10
Ha‘apaiLord Tu‘iha‘angana5
Fatafehi Fakafanua3
Niuatoputapu and Niuafo'ouMataʻiʻulua ‘i Fonuamotu3
TongatapuSialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō12
Maʻafu Tukuiʻaulahi11
Lord Vaha‘i7
Vava‘uMalakai Fakatoufifita6
Tonga Tuʻiʻafitu5
Source: Radio New Zealand

References

  1. "Tonga's general election set for November 16". 6 September 2017.
  2. "Tongan King dissolves parliament, calls fresh elections". Radio New Zealand. 26 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  3. "Tonga speaker claims govt's thirst for power drove him to King". Radio New Zealand. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  4. "86 candidates contesting 17 seats". Matangi Tonga. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  5. "Tongan Parliament elects Pōhiva as PM for next four years". Asia Pacific Report. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  6. Electoral system IPU
  7. Last elections IPU
  8. "Tongan Democrat landslide delivers numbers for Pohiva government". Asia Pacific Report. 17 November 2017. Archived from the original on 16 November 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  9. "Tonga 2017 General Election Results". Matangi Tonga. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
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