Results for Parliament

Tonga’s economy is in trouble. The economic contraction during two years of border restrictions, has been accelerated by January’s devastating Hunga volcanic eruption and tsunamis, followed by the arrival of COVID-19 in February and further job losses. In tabling his 2022-23 budget, the Minister of Finance warned of a continuing contraction of the economy, the likes of which we have not experienced before. From the House, by Pesi Fonua.

A third Member of Parliament, Tatafu Moeaki, will be unseated from the Legislative Assembly on 16 May. This was after the Speaker received the Supreme Court's certification that his election was void on Friday, 6 May.

Four elected members of parliament were absent from the opening session of the new 2022-25 parliament yesterday, including the Speaker of the House Lord Fakafanua. No explanation was offered to the public for the absence of the Speaker and three others, at the swearing-in of newly elected members. From the House by Pesi Fonua

Tomorrow's official opening of Tonga's new parliamentary session for 2022, by King Tupou VI, has been postponed to Tuesday January 11. From the House by Pesi Fonua

An emotional Siaosi ‘Ofakivahakifolau Sovaleni (51) was elected as Tonga's new Prime Minister Designate just before 3:00pm this afternoon, winning 16 votes in the Legislative Assembly at Nuku'alofa.

Two People's Representatives have been nominated for Tonga's Prime Minister Designate. Their names will be announced tomorrow during a meeting at 10:00am on Wednesday, December 15, when elected representatives to the Tonga Legislative Assembly will choose one of them as the new leader.

The official result of Tonga’s 2021 General Parliamentary Election was announced by the Electoral Commissioner and Supervisor of Elections, Pita Vuki, this afternoon, 30 November 2021. After recounts were made for the Tongatapu Constituencies Nos. 1, 5, 7 and 10; and ‘Eua No. 11, there were no changes in the winning candidates. By Pesi Fonua

Tonga elected an all-male parliament today, with nine new faces coming into 17 People's Representative seats. No women were returned or elected. The Prime Minister, Hon. Rev. Dr Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa retained his Tongatapu 10 constituency. Eight Cabinet Ministers, including two Nobles serving as Ministers, were returned. Preliminary results were announced by the Supervisor of Elections Pita Vuki on national radio (TBC) just before 11:00pm Thursday. Tonga has a midnight curfew under its Health Emergency, so after a few minutes of tooting car horns and a handful of fireworks on the Touliki seafront, let off by jubilant supporters of successful candidates, most people went home. UPDATED.

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.