TONGA

ELECTIONS IN 2005

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Chamber:

Fale Alea

Dates of election / renewal (from/to):

17 March 2005

Purpose of elections:

Elections were held for all the elective seats in Parliament on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.

Background and outcome of elections:

In 2004, pro-democracy members of parliament presented a proposal to the Legislative Assembly calling for a referendum for the people to choose between a fully elected parliament and the current system in which some members are directly elected, others indirectly elected by nobles, and some nominated by the King. Although the motion was rejected, the government subsequently promised to appoint two of the newly elected "commoners"(that is the directly elected members) as ministers, together with two representatives of the nobility.

Elections for the seats assigned to be elected by the nobles were held on 16 March 2005. The King's nephew, pro-democracy Prince Tu'ipelehake, failed to win a seat.

As for the 9 directly-elected seats, the electrons took place on 17 March 2005. There were 64 candidates, including six women. All candidates ran as independents as there are no political parties in Tonga. A record 65,000 voters of the kingdom's 98,000 inhabitants went to the polls, up from 59,000 registered for the previous elections. Voter turnout was high, mainly due to the King's promise to include two commoners in the new government.

According to the final results, the pro-democracy movement gained one more seat by winning eight of the nine popular seats. As in all previous elections except in 1978, no woman was elected.

After the elections, two representatives of the nobility and two commoners were appointed as ministers. It was the first time in 130 years of constitutional monarchy that directly-elected members of parliament were being included in the government in Tonga.

On 23 March, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Hon. Veikune (see note below), issued an election order for by-elections for the four seats vacated by the newly appointed ministers, to be held respectively on 3 May and 5 May 2005.

Note:
Mr. Veikune lost his post as speaker following his conviction on 25 January 2006 for attempted bribery and tax evasion. King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV consented to the appointment of Mr. Tu'iha'angana as the new speaker (effective from 10 February 2006).

STATISTICS


Round no 1 (17 March 2005): Election results
Number of registered electors		65'555
Voters		33'119 (50.52%)
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes
Distribution of seats according to political group: not applicable. There are no political parties in Tonga.



Round no 1: Distribution of votes

Political Group	Candidates	Votes	%

Round no 1: Distribution of seats

Political Group

Total

Comments:

Ms. Lepolo Mahe Taunisila was elected at the by-elections held on 5 May 2005.

Mr. Veikune lost his job as Speaker of the Tongan Legislative Assembly following his conviction on 25 January 2006 for attempted bribery and tax evasion. Section 23 of the Tongan Constitution stipulates "that no person, having been convicted of a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment for more than two years shall hold any office in the government or be qualified to work or be elected as a representative of the legislative assembly, unless he has received from the king a pardon". King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV has consented to the appointment of Mr. Tu'iha'angana as the new Speaker of the Legislative Assembly (effective from 10 February 2006).

By-elections for two Noble seats were held on 30 March 2006.

Source:
- Electoral Supervisor of Government of Tonga (20.07.2005)
- Government of Tonga (www.pmo.gov.to)
- Matangi Tonga (www.matangitonga.to)

Distribution of seats according to sex:

Men:

Women:

Percent of women:

0.00

Distribution of seats according to age:

Distribution of seats according to profession:

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