| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Fale Alea / Legislative Assembly |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
16 November 2017 |
| Timing and scope of renewal |
Snap elections in 2017 gave a resounding victory to the former Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva, dismissed by the King in August. Independent candidates (see note 1) supporting Mr. Pohiva took 14 of the 17 directly-elected seats - up from eight previously - in the 30-member Legislative Assembly (see note 2). Two women were elected, compared to none in 2014. Lord Tangi became the Acting Speaker to oversee the process of electing a Prime Minister. On 18 December, the Legislative Assembly re-elected Mr. Pohiva as Prime Minister.
On 24 August, King Tupou VI dissolved parliament and called snap elections, without giving any reasons but stating that he had received advice from the Speaker, Lord Tu'ivakano. In a statement issued on 28 August, the Speaker accused the Government of "attempting to concentrate powers in Cabinet by gradually weaning away the powers of the King in Privy Council" and having "trespassed on the King's powers to make treaties", citing the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus, signed by the Government in June 2017. On 30 August, the Attorney General said the signature of the treaty was not valid as it was not presented to the King for approval. The Government stated "The process is to sign first and then the ratification" by the King.
Note 1:
Tonga does not have a party system and all candidates formally ran as independents. The 14 independent candidates elected belong to the so-called Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (DPFI), led by the Prime Minister. The DPFI took eight seats in the 2014 elections.
Note 2:
The Legislative Assembly also comprises the representatives of the nobles (currently nine) and all members of the Cabinet. The Cabinet may include no more than four persons who are not elected to the Legislative Assembly (Clause 51 of the Constitution). The Legislative Assembly may thus comprise up to 30 members. |
Date of previous elections: 27 November 2014
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 24 August 2017
Timing of election: Early elections
Expected date of next elections: November 2021
Number of seats at stake: 17 (full renewal)
Number of candidates: 86 (71 men, 15 women)
Percentage of women candidates: 17.4%
Number of parties contesting the election: Tonga has no party system.
Number of parties winning seats: N/A
Alternation of power: No
Number of parties in government: N/A
Date of the first session of the new parliament: 18 December 2017
Name of the new Speaker: Lord Fakafanua |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 16 November 2017 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
59'003
39'612 (67.14%)
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Notes
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| Distribution of votes |
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Round no 1
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| Political group |
Candidates |
Votes |
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% of votes |
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| Distribution of seats |
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Round no 1
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| Political Group |
Total of seats
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| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
25
2
7.41%
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| Distribution of seats according to age |
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| Distribution of seats according to profession |
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| Comments |
Note on the number of women
Two women were directly elected in 2017. The new Cabinet, formed in January 2018, includes one male member who was not elected to the Legislative Assembly. As cabinet ministers also sit in parliament, the Legislative Assembly comprises a total of 28 members of whom two were women.
Sources:
Legislative Assembly (20.11.2017, 16.01.2018, 17.01.2018)
Supervisor of Election (14.01.2018)
http://tongaelections.com/index.php/component/content/article/215-2017-general-elections-results
http://www.parliament.gov.to/~parliam1/images/Scan-170829-0001.pdf
http://matangitonga.to
http://www.radionz.co.nz/
http://www.eastasiaforum.org
http://www.pireport.org/ |
