Results for Parliament

Thirty women from across the country have taken their seats in Tonga’s Legislative Assembly today, 15 September, for a practice parliament for women, who make up half the population, yet remain underrepresented in politics. Despite women gaining the right to vote in 1951, only seven women have ever been elected to Parliament in Tonga.

Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, Lord Fakafanua was appointed as Chairman of the Board of a new regional inter-parliamentary institution, the Pacific Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (PIPA).

A lack of public consultation over the replacement of Tonga's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Act is a key concern for the chair of the Friendly Islands Democratic Party (PTOA), who petitioned the Palace this morning, urging the King to withhold his Royal Assent for the new Act. The petition, led by Teisa Pohiva-Cokanasiga and 'Akilisi Pohiva Jr. and signed by over 200 people, was received by the King's Private Secretary, Sione Fifita.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be replaced by His Majesty’s Diplomatic Services, a key reform under the His Majesty’s Diplomatic Service Bill 2025, which was passed by the Tonga Legislative Assembly on 5 August, 2025.

The Legislative Assembly of Tonga passed a Government Bill that raises the legal marriage age to 18 years. It includes amended clauses that explicitly prohibit same-sex marriage. Meanwhile, a major tourism incentive was introduced, which will now allow foreigners to marry in Tonga without requiring links to the country.

Three urgent Government Bills, including a Constitutional amendment, were passed by the Legislative Assembly of Tonga this week, in Nuku’alofa. The Constitutional amendment introduces the word “customs”. People’s Representatives Vaipulu and Sovaleni expressed concerns about the future limitations of using “customary law” and potential confusion in court.

A Commonwealth delegation will visit Tonga to host a high-level dialogue for members of the executive, legislature, and judiciary on the Latimer House Principles, from 23 to 24 July.

Tonga’s Legislative Assembly has unanimously approved a record TOP$992.8 million national budget for the 2025/26 financial year, on Thursday, 19 June, at the Parliament Chamber in Nuku’alofa. The new budget will be effective on 1 July, 2205.

Tonga’s biggest ever budget of $992.8 million for the 2025-26 financial year was presented by the Prime Minister, Hon. Dr 'Aisake Eke, to Parliament today, 3 June. An anticipated budget deficit of $29.1 million will be offset by the issuing of $30 million in local currency bonds.