By Tupou Vaipulu Jr

The registration for candidates running in the 2025 General Election in Tonga closed today, 9 October. A full list of candidates is expected to be released by the Registry office tomorrow.

Twelve more candidates running for the ten Tongatapu seats registered today, including former Prime Minister (incumbent representative for Tongatapu 5), Siaosi Sovaleni.

A handful of the candidates were unavailable to register in-person, but they sent representatives to do the registration, this included current representative for Tongatapu 7 Piveni Piukala.

Candidates registered today included,

• Siaosi Sovaleni, Tongatapu 3
• Viliami Takau, Tongatapu 4
• Sepeti Vakameilalo, Tongatapu 6
• Dulcie Tei, Tongatapu 6
• Lute Finau, Tongatapu 7
• Piveni Piukala represented by Tevita Faletau, Tongatapu 7
• Poasi Fonua, Tongatapu 8
• Vika Fusimalohi, Tongatapu 9
• Faka’osi Maama, Tongatapu 10

Three candidate names are yet to be confirmed.

All the registered candidates from the 10 constituency later gathered at the Tonga Electoral Commission office at 3:00pm to draw their number of order. 

The Electoral Commission told Matangi Tonga that the complete list of candidate names will be released as soon as possible.