Results for Tonga Legislative Assembly

Polling opened at 9:00am this morning, at 200 polling stations throughout Tonga, in the General Election held every four years. It's a fine day for voting and in the capital, traffic is lively. After polls close at 4:00pm the preliminary running results will be announced by the Election Commission and by around 8:00-10:00pm tonight we'll know the leading candidates. Election Supervisor, Pita Vuki, hopes that more voters than ever will turnout today and reverse a trend of growing voter disaffection that saw the last turnout drop to about half of registered electors. By Mary Lyn Fonua.

Tonga's parliament suppressed live broadcasting of its debate this morning, in their first sitting since King Tupou VI questioned the honesty, integrity and abilities of the members at the opening of Parliament on 6 May. A total of 18 MPs agreed their draft letter of response to the king and debate on it should be not broadcasted live. From the House by Pesi Fonua

Tonga's parliament has gone into recess again, after the Prime Minister withdrew 16 bills “to have another look” at them. The PM also told the House that Tonga’s State of Emergency to counter the Coronavirus Pandemic had been extended again from 12 September to 12 March 2021. From the House by Pesi Fonua

Tonga'sParliament will remain closed until August 3, the House decided, voting unanimously 21-0 to extend parliament's closure for another two weeks from July 13. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

Six bills presented to the House by the former government in 2019 were withdrawn this week by the Prime Minister, further distancing himself from the work programme of the previous government. From the House by Pesi Fonua.


A new Tonga National Security of Information Office that is currently being set up by the Prime Minister's Office, was questioned during debate on the $4.48 million budget allocation of the PMO for 2021 that was passed by the Committee of the Whole House in parliament yesterday, Tuesday 9 June. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

Parliamentary debate was dominated by the Prime Minister's proposition for all members of parliament to contribute 20 percent of their annual salaries to government in its effort to counter the COVID-19, in parliament's session yesterday, 19 May 2020.

A decision by the Tongan Parliament to hold a secretive session to debate their response to the speech to the nation by HM King Tupou VI on the opening of parliament, is a historical first and a disappointing show for the first sitting of the House of the new government, under the new prime minister. When parliament hides their pondering over the approval of a simple thank you note, then the public cannot hope to see participatory parliament in the future. From the House, by Pesi Fonua.

The Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives, Rt Hon Trevor Mallard arrived in Nuku'alofa on October 28, on a parliamentary visit.