TONGA: parliamentary elections Fale Alea, 1996

TONGA
Parliamentary Chamber: Fale Alea

ELECTIONS HELD IN 1996

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Chamber:

Fale Alea

Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):

25 January 1996

Purpose of elections:

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

Background and outcome of elections:

Following the previous (February 1993) general elections, Tonga's first political party was formed in August 1994 when the Pro-Democracy Movement launched its People's Party under the chairmanship of Mr. Huliki Watab. This group campaigned for fundamental constitutional and democratic reform, especially increased parliamentary representation for the Tongan people and greater accountability by the authorities in power.
Altogether 61 candidates ran for the nine directly elected seats of the Legislative Assembly. On polling day, at least five pro-democracy incumbents, including the outspoken vice-president of the People's Party, Mr. Akilisi Pohiva, were returned. The previous day (24 January), the nine nobles representatives had been chosen by their peers.
King Taufa'ahau Tupov IV appoints and presides over the Privy Council, which acts as the national Cabinet. It is headed by Prime Minister Baron Vaea of Houma.

STATISTICS

Round no 1: Distribution of seats

(data unavailable)

Distribution of seats according to sex:

Men: 30

Women: 0

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for TONGA <<<

Chamber:
	Fale Alea
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	25 January 1996
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the popularly chosen seats in Parliament on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.
Background and outcome of elections:
	Following the previous (February 1993) general elections, Tonga's first political party was formed in August 1994 when the Pro-Democracy Movement launched its People's Party under the chairmanship of Mr. Huliki Watab. This group campaigned for fundamental constitutional and democratic reform, especially increased parliamentary representation for the Tongan people and greater accountability by the authorities in power. Altogether 61 candidates ran for the nine directly elected seats of the Legislative Assembly. On polling day, at least five pro-democracy incumbents, including the outspoken vice-president of the People's Party, Mr. Akilisi Pohiva, were returned. The previous day (24 January), the nine nobles representatives had been chosen by their peers. King Taufa'ahau Tupov IV appoints and presides over the Privy Council, which acts as the national Cabinet. It is headed by Prime Minister Baron Vaea of Houma.