Tonga elects all-male parliament with nine new People's Reps [1]
Friday, November 19, 2021 - 01:15. Updated on Tuesday, November 30, 2021 - 17:55.
Election Reporting by Linny Folau, Eleanor Gee, Pesi Fonua, Mary Lyn Fonua.
Tonga has elected an all-male parliament today, with nine new faces coming in to the 17 People's Representative seats. No women were returned or elected. The Prime Minister Hon. Rev. Dr Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa retained his Tongatapu 10 constituency. In total eight Cabinet Ministers, including two Nobles serving as Ministers, were returned.
Preliminary results in Tonga's General Election were announced by the Supervisor of Elections Pita Vuki on national radio (Tonga Broadcasting Commission) just before 11:00pm tonight.
Tonga has a midnight curfew under its current Health Emergency, so after a few minutes of tooting car horns and a few fireworks on the seafront, everyone has gone home.
Major losses for the PTOA Party included Siaosi Pohiva, Semisi Sika, Mateni Tapueluelu, Mo'ale Finau and Losaline Ma'asi. (Siaosi and Mateni are the son and son-in-law of the late 'Akilisi Pohiva.)
Eight out of 11 serving Cabinet ministers who stood for re-election were returned. From the 17 People's Representatives, there were six re-elected cabinet ministers, including the Prime Minister Hon. Rev. Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa; MEIDECC Minister Hon. Poasi Tei; Minister of Education, Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni; Minister of Justice, Hon. Samiu Vaipulu; and Minister of Internal Affairs, Vatau Hui; as well as Hon. Tatafu Moeaki, who was an appointed Minister of Trade & Development in the current government. (Two nobles who are serving Ministers, Lord Nuku and Lord Tu'ilakepa, were also re-elected in the separate Nobles's election [2]).
The next Prime Minister will be elected by the new Members of Parliament at a time to be announced.
All results announced tonight are preliminary. Under the Electoral Act Candidates may demand recounts within one week of the election, for a fee of $1000. If there are no calls for recounts then tonight's result is final.
People's Representatives:
NEW
TONGATAPU 1 Tevita Fatafehi Puloka 1695 (replaces Siaosi Vailahi Pohiva)
TONGATAPU 2 'Uhilamoelangi Fasi 962 (replaces Semisi Kioa Lafu Sika)
TONGATAPU 4 Tatafu Toma Moeaki, appointed Minister, 1237 (replaces Mateni Tapueluelu)
TONGATAPU 5 'Aisake Valu Eke 958 (replaces Losaline Ma'asi)
TONGATAPU 7 Sione Sangstar Saulala 810 (replaces the late Vuna Fa'otusia)
TONGATAPU 9 Sevenitini Toumo'ua 828 (Penisimani 'Epenisa Fifita)
HA'APAI 12 Vili Manuopangai Faka'osiula Hingano 475 (replaces Mo'ale Finau)
'EUA 11 Taniela Liku'ohihifo Fusimalohi 1072 (replaces Tevita Lavemaau)
VAVA'U 16 Viliami Uasike Latu 1047 (replaces 'Akosita Lavulavu)
RETURNED
TONGATAPU 3 Siaosi 'Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni 2084 (Minister)
TONGATAPU 6 Poasi Mataele Tei 1771 (Minister)
TONGATPU 8 Semisi Tauelangi Fakahau 1020
TONGATAPU 10 Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa 1303 (Prime Minister)
HA'APAI 13 Veivosa Light of Day Taka 731
VAVA'U 14 Saia Ma'u Piukala 1010
VAVA'U 15 Samiu Kuita Vaipulu 747 (Minister)
ONGO NIUA Vatau Mefi Hui (Minister) 367
Registered Electors for Constituencies