Results for Parliament

No complaints of electoral infringement or applications for recount had been received by the Electoral Commission on November 29, following the closely-fought Tongatapu 1 By-Election.

Two candidates will contest the Tongatapu 1 By-Election on Thursday November 28. Dr Netatua Pelesikoti Taufatofua and Siaosi Pohiva, both campaigning for a seat in the Tonga Legislative Assembly, last week talked about their priorities for their constituency.

Registration of voters in Tongatapu 1 remains open until the second week of November, before the printing of the electoral roll for the Constituency no. 1 By-Election on Thursday, November 28.

Former Prime Minister, Lord Sevele ‘o Vailahi is optimistic that Tonga’s political reform program can proceed, following the change of government on 27 September. “Let's make the reform work,” he said.

Only two candidates have registered to run in the November 28 By-Election to elect a new People’s Representative for Tongatapu 1 to the Tonga Legislative Assembly, to fill the seat of the late Hon. 'Akilisi Pohiva.

Hon. Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa (68), one of two candidates nominated, was elected 15-8, this afternoon as Tonga’s new Prime Minister, by 23 elected members of the Tongan Parliament in a secret ballot. (Updated to correct age).

Tonga may have a new Prime Minister by the end of the September. The Speaker of Parliament on 26 September will read out nominations and call for the 25 members of parliament to elect a new Prime Minister.

Tonga's ailing Prime Minister Hon. 'Akilisi Pohiva (78) has a paramount concern: the succession of his leadership. He now faces opposition to the government he has headed since the elections of November 2014. There is rivalry and turmoil. He feels challenged. The reform is not what he imagined. He warns of clashes. Matangi Tonga Editor, Pesi Fonua talks to the Prime Minister about why, nine years after the reform, the PM remains at odds with the new system that parliament voted for in 2009.

Finding a quorum to enable the Tongan Parliament to proceed with its 2019 session has been an issue since it was scheduled to resume on 5 August. There is much work for the House to do. The Ministry of Education presented its annual reports from 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. From the House by Pesi Fonua