2017 Tongan general election

2017 Tongan general election
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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

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]

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
CandidateVotes%
ʻAkilisi Pōhiva1,37950.57
Netatua Pelesikoti35212.91
Sione Tukia27910.23
Ofo-Mei-Vaha Tupou Niumeitolu1967.19
Mosese Teukiveiuto Manuofetoa1284.69
Siotame Drew Havea1094.00
Siale ʻAtaongo Puloka802.93
ʻAna Kanume Bing Fonua792.90
Sione Keuate Tupouniua622.27
Barry Smith Taukolo491.80
ʻEliesa Fifita140.51
Total2,727100.00
Valid votes2,72799.74
Invalid/blank votes70.26
Total votes2,734100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 2
CandidateVotes%
Semisi Sika1,11152.09
Sione Tuʻitavake Fonua46521.80
Soane Patita Vakautafefine Fifita27712.99
ʻEma Rererangi Fonua Stephenson26012.19
Fisiʻipeau Faiva200.94
Total2,133100.00
Valid votes2,13399.86
Invalid/blank votes30.14
Total votes2,136100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 3
CandidateVotes%
Siaosi Sovaleni1,42144.34
Tevita Palu93229.08
Katalina Tohi60718.94
Mele Teusivi ʻAmanaki1594.96
Sitiveni Halapua832.59
Tonga Soane30.09
Total3,205100.00
Valid votes3,20599.84
Invalid/blank votes50.16
Total votes3,210100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 4
CandidateVotes%
Mateni Tapueluelu1,46960.80
Seketi Foʻou Fuko38816.06
ʻIsileli Pulu2168.94
Tevita Mateitalo Makameimoana Motulalo1385.71
Poli Tuaileva1365.63
Litia Simpson692.86
Total2,416100.00
Valid votes2,41699.75
Invalid/blank votes60.25
Total votes2,422100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 5
CandidateVotes%
Losaline Maʻasi1,03435.40
ʻAisake Eke95332.63
ʻAna Hauʻalofaʻia Koloto52718.04
Feʻofaʻaki Taufonua Latu31110.65
Viliami Kini Mangisi963.29
Total2,921100.00
Valid votes2,92199.80
Invalid/blank votes60.20
Total votes2,927100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 6
CandidateVotes%
Poasi Tei1,42548.77
Soane Taiofonongahina ʻAhio67223.00
Siosifa Tuʻitupou Tuʻutafaiva42514.54
Sione Tatafu Angakehe Tafuna32511.12
Fisiʻitotoa ʻAhohiva Kaufusi752.57
Total2,922100.00
Valid votes2,92299.83
Invalid/blank votes50.17
Total votes2,927100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 7
CandidateVotes%
Sione Vuna Faʻotusia1,27348.74
Sione Sangster Saulala72627.79
Mavaetangi Manavahetau2178.31
Sione Hufanga1917.31
ʻOlikoni Tanaki1335.09
Talanoa Fuka Kitekeiʻaho632.41
Tevita Silatolu90.34
Total2,612100.00
Valid votes2,61299.85
Invalid/blank votes40.15
Total votes2,616100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 8
CandidateVotes%
Semisi Fakahau1,18246.90
Viliami Sisifa59623.65
Penisimani Teisina48419.21
Mosaʻati Vaipulu1877.42
Viliami Kilisimasi Taufa712.82
Total2,520100.00
Valid votes2,52099.76
Invalid/blank votes60.24
Total votes2,526100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 9
CandidateVotes%
Penisimani Fifita1,30249.75
Siamelie Latu53720.52
Vika Vaka Fusimalohi48818.65
Timote Tuʻiono Oliveti Laume29011.08
Total2,617100.00
Valid votes2,61799.96
Invalid/blank votes10.04
Total votes2,618100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 10
CandidateVotes%
Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa1,63158.17
Soane Kautai59321.15
Loupua Kuli40614.48
Daniel Kimball Fale1746.21
Total2,804100.00
Valid votes2,80499.86
Invalid/blank votes40.14
Total votes2,808100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
ʻEua 11
CandidateVotes%
Tevita Lavemaau78937.46
Taniela Fusimalohi51924.64
Sunia Fili47622.60
Sunia Kauvaka Havea31014.72
Hale Telepo60.28
Silivia Loumaile Mahe60.28
Total2,106100.00
Valid votes2,10699.91
Invalid/blank votes20.09
Total votes2,108100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Haʻapai 12
CandidateVotes%
Moʻale Finau63539.84
Viliami Hingano58836.89
Finau Pulotu Uata37123.27
Total1,594100.00
Valid votes1,59499.75
Invalid/blank votes40.25
Total votes1,598100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Haʻapai 13
CandidateVotes%
Veivosa Taka90556.88
ʻEsafe Hema Latu58937.02
ʻElikisoni Langi976.10
Total1,591100.00
Valid votes1,59199.81
Invalid/blank votes30.19
Total votes1,594100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Vavaʻu 14
CandidateVotes%
Saia Piukala1,36661.28
Latu Niua Lepolo49522.21
Matini Fatanitavake Maʻafu-ʻo-Veikune T. Veikune36816.51
Total2,229100.00
Valid votes2,22999.91
Invalid/blank votes20.09
Total votes2,231100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Vavaʻu 15
CandidateVotes%
Samiu Vaipulu68432.33
Tomifa Faingaʻa Paea60828.73
Kulufeinga ʻAnisi Bloomfield49423.35
Keuli Pasina Lavaki1848.70
Sinali Feʻiloaki Hansen833.92
Tongovua Fifita632.98
Total2,116100.00
Valid votes2,11699.76
Invalid/blank votes50.24
Total votes2,121100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Vavaʻu 16
CandidateVotes%
ʻAkosita Lavulavu93542.99
Viliami Latu74834.39
ʻAtalasa Misilemoti Pouvalu29613.61
Viliami Lolohea1748.00
ʻAisea Silivenusi221.01
Total2,175100.00
Valid votes2,17599.77
Invalid/blank votes50.23
Total votes2,180100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Ongo Niua 17
CandidateVotes%
Vatau Hui43851.11
Sosefo Feʻaomoeata Vakata41948.89
Total857100.00
Valid votes857100.00
Invalid/blank votes00.00
Total votes857100.00
Source: Tonga Elections

Nobles

Constituency Elected candidate Votes
‘Eua Lord Nuku 10
Ha‘apai Lord Tuʻihaʻangana 5
Fatafehi Fakafanua 3
Niuatoputapu and Niuafo'ou Mataʻiʻulua ʻi Fonuamotu 3
Tongatapu Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō 12
Maʻafu Tukuiʻaulahi 11
Lord Vaha‘i 7
Vava‘u Malakai Fakatoufifita 6
Tonga Tuʻiʻafitu 5
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. ^ a b Last elections IPU
  8. ^ a b "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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