2021 Tongan general election

2021 Tongan general election

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17 of the 26 seats in the Legislative Assembly
Turnout61.92%
  First party Second party
 
Leader Semisi Sika Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa
Party DPFI TPPI
Seats before 14 New
Seats won 3 1
Seat change Decrease 11 Increase 1

Prime Minister before election

Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa
TPPI

Elected Prime Minister

Siaosi Sovaleni
Independent

General elections were held in Tonga on 18 November 2021 to elect 17 of the 26 seats in the Legislative Assembly.[1]

Following the elections, four MPs were unseated for bribery.[2]

Background

[edit]

The 2017 general election resulted in a landslide victory for the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (Tongan: Paati Temokalati ʻa e ʻOtu Motu ʻAngaʻofa, or PTOA),[3] and ʻAkilisi Pōhiva was re-elected as Prime Minister, defeating former Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni 14 votes to 12.[4] In September 2019 Pohiva died,[5] and Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa was elected as Prime Minister with the support of the nobles, independent MPs, and 5 former members of the DPFI.[6][7] His cabinet included three nobles, who had previously been excluded under Pohiva.[8]

In December 2020 Democratic party leader Semisi Sika submitted a motion of no-confidence in Prime Minister Tuʻiʻonetoa.[9] The motion was backed by Deputy Prime Minister Sione Vuna Fa'otusia,[10] who subsequently resigned from Cabinet.[9][11] The Legislative Assembly rejected the no-confidence motion 13-9 on 12 January 2021.[12]

Following ʻAkilisi Pōhiva's death the PTOA fragmented, with rivalries emerging between Siaosi Pohiva and his brother-in-law Mateni Tapueluelu.[13] In the leadup to the election this led to a formal split, with Pohiva leaving the party's board and "core team".[14]

In the leadup to the election Infrastructure and Tourism Minister ʻAkosita Lavulavu and her husband ʻEtuate Lavulavu, who had previously served as a Minister, were both convicted of obtaining money by false pretenses[15][16] and sentenced to six years in prison by the Supreme Court.[17][18]

Electoral system

[edit]

The Legislative Assembly of Tonga has up to 30 members, of whom 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.[19] Nine seats are held by members of the nobility, who elect representatives amongst themselves.[20] 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.[20] Around 60,000 voters were eligible to vote.[21]

Campaign

[edit]

Parliament was dissolved on 16 September.[22] 75 candidates, including 12 women, registered to contest the election.[23][24] One candidate, Sione Fonua, later withdrew, while a second one died, leaving 73 candidates in total.[25] Despite a week-long lockdown due to a COVID-19 case, the election was not delayed.[26]

Prime Minister Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa did not promote his Tonga People's Party during the campaign, and several Ministers ran as independents.[27]

Results

[edit]

Voters elected an all-male parliament, with nine new people's representatives.[28] The leaders of both Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (PTOA), Semisi Sika and Siaosi Pōhiva, lost their seats, as did other senior PTOA MP's.[29] While the PTOA won majorities in most constituencies, vote-splitting between the rival factions saw them lose seats to independent candidates.[30] Only three PTOA candidates were elected: Semisi Fakahau, Veivosa Taka and Saia Piukala.[31] The People's Party formally retained only one seat,[32] but may name its members after the elections.[33]

The Electoral Commission reported that voter turnout was 62%.[34]

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands3–11
Tonga People's Party1New
Independents13+10
Nobles' representatives90
Total26
Total votes38,550
Registered voters/turnout62,25361.92
Source: Matangi Tonga,[29] Nukuʻalofa Times[31] Talanoa ʻo Tonga[32]

By constituency

[edit]
Tongatapu 1
CandidateVotes%
Tēvita Fatafehi Puloka1,69558.45
Siaosi Pōhiva1,11438.41
Ikani Loneli Taliai441.52
Sione Keuate Tupouniua341.17
Eliesa Fifita130.45
Total2,900100.00
Registered voters/turnout4,681
Tongatapu 2
CandidateVotes%
ʻUhilamoelangi Fasi96248.93
Semisi Sika79640.49
Soane Patita Vakautafefine Fifita20810.58
Total1,966100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,674
Tongatapu 3
CandidateVotes%
Siaosi Sovaleni2,08483.29
Gabriella Renne Blake ʻIlolahia37615.03
Fisiʻipeau Faiva421.68
Total2,502100.00
Registered voters/turnout4,734
Tongatapu 4
CandidateVotes%
Tatafu Moeaki1,23748.08
Mateni Tapueluelu1,11643.37
Ilaisi Lelei ʻUfi2208.55
Total2,573100.00
Registered voters/turnout4,239
Tongatapu 5
CandidateVotes%
ʻAisake Eke95835.23
Maliu Takai65724.16
Losaline Maʻasi61422.58
‘Akanete Lauti49018.02
Total2,719100.00
Registered voters/turnout4,526
Tongatapu 6
CandidateVotes%
Poasi Tei1,77161.94
Fane Fotu Fituafe1,08838.06
Total2,859100.00
Registered voters/turnout4,700
Tongatapu 7
CandidateVotes%
Sione Sangster Saulala81031.75
Feletiliki Teau‘imo‘unga Fa‘otusia65925.83
Paula Piveni Piukala61023.91
Emaloni Tau‘akiloto Tongi35914.07
Mele Teusivi ‘Amanaki803.14
Taniela Vao331.29
Total2,551100.00
Registered voters/turnout4,328
Tongatapu 8
CandidateVotes%
Semisi Fakahau1,02041.45
Johnny Grattan Vaea Taione74630.31
Viliami Sisifa64126.05
Poasi Fonua421.71
John Alan Ramsay120.49
Total2,461100.00
Registered voters/turnout4,089
Tongatapu 9
CandidateVotes%
Sevenitini Toumoʻua82832.47
Tevita Tukunga78130.63
Penisimani Fifita41116.12
Vika Vaka Fusimalohi34413.49
Timote Tu‘iono ‘Oliveti Laume1305.10
Mapa Tautahi ‘Uhila562.20
Total2,550100.00
Registered voters/turnout4,216
Tongatapu 10
CandidateVotes%
Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa1,30345.61
Kapelieli Militoni Lanumata1,08638.01
Vika Taufa Kaufusi46816.38
Total2,857100.00
Registered voters/turnout4,568
ʻEua 11
CandidateVotes%
Taniela Fusimalohi1,07250.05
Tevita Lavemaau1,05949.44
Tevita Fakaʻosi70.33
Silivia Loumaile Mahe40.19
Total2,142100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,092
Haʻapai 12
CandidateVotes%
Viliami Hingano47531.39
Moʻale Finau42528.09
Sione Finau Tapu20813.75
Saimone Kapetaua Vuki20013.22
Ana Lautaimi Takai1439.45
Sovaleni Maama-Tataki-‘Oe-Fononga Toafa Fifita624.10
Total1,513100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,356
Haʻapai 13
CandidateVotes%
Veivosa Taka73147.84
Viliami Paumolevuka43628.53
Milika Fifita Ikahihifo31920.88
Pita Halapo‘ulia Mohetau241.57
Taniela ‘Ahokovi Moli181.18
Total1,528100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,340
Vavaʻu 14
CandidateVotes%
Saia Piukala1,01048.30
Tuʻamelie Helotu Kemoeʻatu40519.37
Loisi Halaliku37918.13
Latu Niua Lepolo1698.08
Paula Penisimani Tatafu1286.12
Total2,091100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,182
Vavaʻu 15
CandidateVotes%
Samiu Vaipulu74736.47
Keuli Pasina Lavaki73936.08
Tomifa Fainga‘a Paea47323.10
Katinia Limiteti Taumalolo472.29
Siosiua ‘Umulovo Toki422.05
Total2,048100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,989
Vavaʻu 16
CandidateVotes%
Viliami Latu1,04744.44
Mapa Ha‘ano Jr Taumalolo50921.60
Silongoʻatonga Samani40417.15
Seli Uatekini Tuʻakalau39616.81
Total2,356100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,262
Ongo Niua 17
CandidateVotes%
Vatau Hui36739.29
Sosefo Feʻaomoeata Vakata28530.51
Paea-ʻI-Vaha Filimoehala23024.63
ʻAisake Hoatatau Finau525.57
Total934100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,277

Nobles

[edit]
Constituency Elected Votes
‘Eua Lord Nuku 11
Ha‘apai Lord Tu‘iha‘angana 5
Fatafehi Fakafanua 4
Niuas Prince Fotofili 2
Tongatapu Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō 12
ʻAlipate Tuʻivanuavou Vaea 13
Sione Siale Fohe 10
Vavaʻu Malakai Fakatoufifita 8
Tonga Tuʻiʻafitu 9
Source: Matangi Tonga

Aftermath

[edit]

Following the election Viliami Tangi was appointed interim Speaker.[35] Three candidates initially announced their candidacy for Prime Minister: Interim Prime Minister Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa, former Finance Minister ʻAisake Eke, and former Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni.[36][37] Tuʻiʻonetoa later withdrew his candidacy, leaving Sovaleni as the frontrunner.[38]

The Legislative Assembly met on 15 December to elect a Prime Minister, with both Sovaleni and Eke being nominated.[39] Sovaleni was elected with 16 votes.[40][41] Fatafehi Fakafanua was re-elected as Speaker.[42] Sovaleni was formally appointed Prime Minister on 27 December,[43] and announced his cabinet on 29 December.[44][45] parliament was formally opened on 11 January 2022.[46]

Following the election Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa was found guilty of bribery in an election petition and stripped of his seat.[47][48] Sangster Saulala was found guilty of two counts of bribery on 2 May 2022 and his election declared void.[49][50] Tatafu Moeaki was found guilty of bribery on 6 May,[51] and Poasi Tei on 13 May.[52] Election petitions against Tevita Puloka and 'Uhilamoelangi Fasi were unsuccessful.[2] On 26 May 2022 the convictions were stayed pending appeal.[53] On 9 August 2022 the appeals by Saulala, Tei and Moeaki were dismissed, and their elections were confirmed as void.[54] Tu’i’onetoa's appeal was upheld and he remains in parliament.[55][56] Saulala, Tei and Moeaki were formally unseated by Parliament and their seats declared vacant on 10 August,[57] sparking the 2022 Tongatapu by-elections.[58]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Tonga general election set for November 18 Parliament of Tonga, 8 September 2021
  2. ^ a b "Four MPs have now lost seats in Tonga". RNZ. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
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  20. ^ a b "TONGA (Fale Alea), Last elections". Inter-Parliamentary Union. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
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  38. ^ "First photo emerges as Sovaleni gets support of 11 MPs; Tu'i'onetoa allegedly withdraws from premiership race". Kaniva Tonga. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
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  40. ^ "Emotional, Siaosi Sovaleni elected PM Designate". Matangi Tonga. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
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  46. ^ "Tonga's King opens Parliament". RNZ. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  47. ^ "Disgraced former PM Pōhiva Tu'i'onetoa loses seat through electoral petition: reports". Kaniva Tonga. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  48. ^ Philip Cass (1 May 2022). "If I had wanted to buy votes I would have made sure they got the money, former PM tells court, but judge says bribery occurred, voids election". Kaniva Tonga. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  49. ^ "Saulala 'commits bribery', court says : another Tongan MP loses seat in election petitions". Kaniva Tonga. 2 May 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  50. ^ "Court finds Sangster Saulala committed bribery, Tongatapu no. 7 PR election void". Matangi Tonga. 2 May 2022. Archived from the original on 2 May 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  51. ^ "Another election result cancelled as Moeaki found guilty of bribery in Tongatapu 4 contest". Kaniva Tonga. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  52. ^ "Third Cabinet Minister disqualified as Tei found guilty of bribery in Tongatapu 6 contest". Kaniva Tonga. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  53. ^ "Convicted Tongan MPs given stay by appeals". RNZ. 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  54. ^ "Appeals dismissed, three Cabinet Ministers elections void". Matangi Tonga. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  55. ^ "Tonga court dismisses three Cabinet Ministers' electoral fraud appeals; upholds former PM's appeal". Kaniva Tonga. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  56. ^ Linny Folau (10 August 2022). "Former PM successful in appeals, others dismissed". Matangi Tonga. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  57. ^ "Three Cabinet Ministers unseated". Matangi Tonga. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  58. ^ "Tongatapu by-election date announced by Speaker". Kaniva Tonga. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.