Tongan general election, 2014

Tonga
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politics and government of
Tonga

General elections were held in Tonga on 27 November 2014.[1] All twenty-six elected seats in the single-chamber Legislative Assembly were up for election, although the monarch, acting on the advice of his Prime Minister, retains the possibility to appoint members to Cabinet from outside Parliament, thus granting them a non-elected ex officio seat in Parliament.

They were the second elections carried out under the May 2010 electoral law, which provided that a majority of Assembly members should be elected by the people, rather than the people and the nobility having equal representation.[2] The November 2010 general election was the first held under this new democratic principle; it was also the first to produce a Parliament empowered to give binding advice to the King as to the appointment of a Prime Minister.[2]

Background

In the 2010 general elections, the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (DPFI), led by veteran pro-democracy activist ʻAkilisi Pohiva, had won twelve of the people's seventeen seats, with the rest going to independent candidates. (The representatives of the nobility, for their part, never belong to any political party.) Pohiva, the MP for Tongatapu 1, had sought to become Prime Minister, but the nobles and independent people's representatives entrusted Lord Tuʻivakanō with the task of forming a government, relegating the DPFI to the status of a de facto parliamentary opposition.[2]

Considering that the reforms introduced in 2010 were merely to be viewed as a first step in the process of democratisation, the DPFI introduced a bill in October 2013 (via ʻAisake Eke, MP for Tongatapu 5) which would have empowered the people to elect the Prime Minister directly from among the twenty-six elected members of Parliament, instead of the King appointing a Prime Minister from among those members on the advice of Parliament. The bill was rejected by fifteen votes to six, failing even to secure the support of all DPFI members.[3]

Nonetheless, Pohiva immediately announced that, in early 2014, his party would submit a bill for electoral reform, so that all twenty-six members of the Assembly be elected by the people. The nobility would still retain their existing nine seats, but those nobles would be elected by the people. Pohiva suggested this would make "the whole Parliament [...] accountable to the people and not as we have it now".[4] Dr Malakai Koloamatangi of Massey University commented that it was probably too late for any such reform to apply to the 2014 election.[5]

Electoral system

Under the electoral reforms introduced prior to the 2010 election, Tonga is divided into seventeen single-member constituencies for the election of the people's representatives. These overlap with the four constituencies for the election of the nobles' representatives: a four-member constituency covering Tongatapu and ʻEua, a two-member constituency covering Vavaʻu, a two-member constituency covering Haʻapai, and a single-member constituency covering the islands of Niuafoʻou and Niuatoputapu. In both types of constituency, the first-past-the-post electoral system is applied.[2]

All Tongan citizens aged at least 21, other than noble title holders and members of the Royal Family who hold noble titles, are entitled to elect the people's representative for their constituency. "Persons under summons for debt" and those diagnosed as insane are excluded from the right to vote.[2] As for the nobles' constituencies, the right to vote is granted to hereditary peers and life peers, although only hereditary peers are entitled to be elected. There are thirty-three titles of hereditary nobility, which can be inherited only by men, and which entitle the bearer to the title of "Lord". Some of these titles are periodically vacant, and some are held by members of the Royal Family. As of 2013, eight commoners (all of them men) had been elevated by the monarchy to a life peerage, which likewise entitled them to the title of "Lord".[6]

Results

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands 9–3
Independents 8+3
Nobles' representatives––90
Invalid/blank votes105–––
Total40,736100260
Source: NZ Kaniva Pacific

By constituency

Tongatapu 1
Candidate Votes %
ʻAkilisi Pohiva1,482
William Cocker448
Mosese Teu-Ki-Veiuto Manuofetoa345
Ilisapesi Tau'akitangata Seli Baker191
Ana Kanume Bing Fonua132
Emeline 'Uheina Tuita75
Eliesa Fifita75
Soloni Lutui8
Invalid/blank votes13–
Total2,769100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Portal
Tongatapu 2
Candidate Votes %
Semisi Sika1,091
Sione Tu'itavake Fonua543
Tevita Kaitu'u Fotu436
Soane Patita Vakautafefine Fifita186
Invalid/blank votes9–
Total2,265100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Portal
Tongatapu 3
Candidate Votes %
Siaosi 'Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni999
Tevita Palu711
Clive Edwards518
Mesuilame Simote Vea459
Mele Teusivi 'Amanaki151
Gabriella Renne Blake 'Ilolahia110
Paula Lavulo15
Invalid/blank votes6–
Total2,969100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Portal
Tongatapu 4
Candidate Votes %
Mateni Tapueluelu783
ʻIsileli Pulu570
Etika Koka492
Seketi Fo'ou Fuko248
Etuate 'Eniti Sakalia168
Poli Tuaileva94
Tevita 'Ita Koloamatangi54
Felise 'Ulupano37
Tominiko Setefano Folaumotuita Kama4
Invalid/blank votes14–
Total2,464100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Portal
Tongatapu 5
Candidate Votes %
ʻAisake Eke1,682
Maliu Takai1,090
Lia Manatu Faoa72
Viliami Kini Tukia H.P. Mangisi44
Invalid/blank votes13–
Total2,901100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Portal
Tongatapu 6
Candidate Votes %
Poasi Mataele Tei 1,036
Salesi Finau Hu'ia Fotu912
Siosifa Tuʻitupou Tuʻutafaiva629
Sione Tatafu Angakehe Tafuna325
Invalid/blank votes7–
Total2,909100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Portal
Tongatapu 7
Candidate Votes %
Sione Vuna Fa'otusia822
Sione Sangster Saulala762
Sipola Fakaanga Havili Halafihi686
Mavaetangi Manavahetau199
Atalasa Misilemoti Pouvalu99
Pinomi Prescott41
Amanaki Paea Molitika33
Siosifa Filini Sikuea31
Invalid/blank votes5–
Total2,678100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Portal
Tongatapu 8
Candidate Votes %
Semisi Fakahau 1,016
Tevita Tu'i Uata895
Sione Taione663
Mafile'o Mataele32
Sipaisi Kutu12
Invalid/blank votes3–
Total2,621100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Portal
Tongatapu 9
Candidate Votes %
Penisimani 'Epenisa Fifita679
Vika Fusimalohi603
Falisi Tupou550
Tevita Tupu 'Ofa505
Samipeni Uaine Finau199
Lemasingo Tania Nai88
Invalid/blank votes7–
Total2,683100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Portal
Tongatapu 10
Candidate Votes %
Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa1,402
Faka'osilea Kaufusi845
Daniel Kimball Fale452
Semisi Tapueluelu285
Seini Teu45
Invalid/blank votes6–
Total3,035100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Portal
'Eua 11
Candidate Votes %
Tevita Lavemaau760
Sunia Fili716
Taniela Fusimalohi618
Suliasi Pouvalu Fonise 'Aholelei57
Silivia Loumaile Mahe7
Invalid/blank votes1–
Total2,159100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Portal
Ha'apai 12
Candidate Votes %
Viliami Manuopangai Hingano535
Moʻale Finau532
Pita Faiva Taufatofua396
Pita Vi158
Tu'ivaita Ueleni69
Latiume Kaufusi18
Invalid/blank votes1–
Total1,709100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Portal
Ha'apai 13
Candidate Votes %
Veivosa Light of Life Taka823
Samiuela Takapuna Fangaloka443
Sosaia Langitoto Helu156
Anau Ki Lifuka 'Anau139
Sione Talanoa Fifita103
Invalid/blank votes1–
Total1,665100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Portal
Vava'u 14
Candidate Votes %
Saia Ma'u Piukala1,232
Lisiate ‘Akolo739
Latu Niua Lepolo272
Matini F.M.'O.V.T.T. Veikune79
Tu'amelie H. Faitu'a Kemoe'atu70
Tongovua T. Toloke Appleton34
Taniela Fakalolo Kivalu17
Invalid/blank votes8–
Total2,450100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Portal
Vava'u 15
Candidate Votes %
Samiu Vaipulu747
Tomifa Paea524
Kulufeinga 'Anisi Bloomfield 472
Keuli Pasina Lavaki166
Sione Sosefo Fitu Mailangi95
Alekisio Kaita'eifo77
Alwyn Thomas Moa36
Elieta Sapate Toke31
Salesi Kauvaka27
Viliami Kaufusi Helu20
Viliami Pasikala16
Henele Tu'ulau Fononga9
Invalid/blank votes4–
Total2,224100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Portal
Vava'u 16
Candidate Votes %
‘Etuate Lavulavu767
Viliami Latu627
Ipeni 'Alamoni Siale346
Tupoulahi Manuofetoa212
Aisea Silivenusi135
Viliami Lolohea106
Ikani Loneli Taliai87
Invalid/blank votes6–
Total2,286100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Portal
Ongo Niua 17
Candidate Votes %
Sosefo Fe‘aomoeata Vakata519
Vatai Hui291
Sione Peauafi Haukinima138
Invalid/blank votes1–
Total949100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Tonga Portal

Nobles

Constituency Elected candidate Votes
'EuaLord Nuku7
Ha'apaiLord Tuʻihaʻateiho4
Lord Tu'iha'angana4
Niuatoputapu and Niuafo'ouLord Fusitu’a2
TongatapuʻAlipate Tuʻivanuavou Vaea11
Maʻafu Tukuiʻaulahi10
Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō8
Vava'uTonga Tuʻiʻafitu5
Lord Tu'ilakepa4
Source: Tonga Portal

References

  1. ↑ "MP proposes bill to dissolve government", Matangi Tonga, 21 October 2013
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Tonga: Fale Alea (Legislative Assembly)", Interparliamentary Union
  3. ↑ "Parliament rejects a Bill to change Tonga's electoral system", Matangi Tonga, 24 October 2013
  4. ↑ "Tonga Democrats to table more reform plans", Radio New Zealand International, 30 October 2013
  5. ↑ "Tonga reform push too late before elections, says academic", Radio New Zealand International, 31 October 2013
  6. ↑ "Nobles", Tongan Ministry of Information
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