FALISI Tupou of Tatakamotonga is the new Tongatapu 9 People's Representative to the Tonga Legislative Assembly - the choice of 745 voters during the constituency's By Election held today, Thursday September 15.

Falisi is a member of the Friendly Island Democratic Party that includes Tongatapu 1 'Akilisi Pohiva and Tongatapu 3 Dr Sitiveni Halapua. He also works for the Kele'a newspaper owned by the Pohiva family.

Six candidates, all men, contested for the parliamentary seat.

The Supervisor of Elections Pita Vuki announced the result of the By Election at 7pm The result showed Falisi well ahead of his five other runners winning 745 votes, about 32% of the votes cast.

Following was Seventeen Toumo'ua from Haveluliku with 483, Viliami Fukofuka from Tatakamotonga, 469 votes; Siaosi Tu’ipulotu from 'Alakifonua, 254 votes; 'Epeli Kalemani from Fua'amotu, 199 votes; and Konisitutone Kami from Lavengatonga, 119 votes.

Pita said only 2,269 out of the overall 2,959 registered voters in the Tongatapu 9 constituency turned out to vote today at the nine nine polling stations in Tongatapu and in the outer islands of Vava'u, Ha'apai, 'Eua and the two Niuas.

Polling stations opened at 9:00pm and closed at 4:00pm.

The by-election was called to fill the seat vacated by the late Kaveinga Fa'anunu who died recently.