2017 Tongan general election

General elections were held in Tonga on 16 November 2017[1] to elect 17 of the 26 seats to the Legislative Assembly.[2] King Tupou VI dissolved the Assembly on 25 August 2017 on the advice of its Speaker, Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō, who claimed that Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pohiva was attempting to claim powers held by the King and Privy Council within Cabinet.[3]

2017 Tongan general election

← 2014 16 November 2017 2021 →

17 of 26 seats in the Legislative Assembly
  First party
 
Leader ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
Party DPFI
Leader's seat Tongatapu 1
Seats before 9
Seats won 14
Seat change Increase 5
Popular vote 17,610
Percentage 44.53%

Results by constituency

Prime Minister before election

ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
DPFI

Elected Prime Minister

ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
DPFI

Nominations closed on 27 September, with 86 candidates contesting the 17 people's seats.[4] The election resulted in a victory for the DPFI, with ʻAkilisi Pōhiva remaining as Prime Minister.[5]

Electoral system

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The Legislative Assembly of Tonga has up to 30 members, of which 17 are directly elected by first-past-the-post voting from single-member constituencies. The island of Tongatapu has ten constituencies, Vavaʻu three, Haʻapai two and ʻEua and Niuatoputapu/Niuafoʻou one each.[6] Nine seats are held by members of the nobility who elect representatives amongst themselves.[7] The Cabinet formed by a Prime Minister may include up to four members not elected to the Assembly, who then automatically become members of the legislature.[7]

Results

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The Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands won 14 seats, enough to allow them to form a government without needing the support of nobles or independents.[8]

 
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands17,61044.5314+5
Langafonua 'a e Masiva3,2618.250New
Independents18,67447.223–5
Nobles' representatives90
Total39,545100.00260
Valid votes39,54599.83
Invalid/blank votes680.17
Total votes39,613100.00
Registered voters/turnout59,00367.14
Source: Tonga Elections,[9] IFES,[10] Matangi Tonga[11] Asia Pacific Report[8]

By constituency

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Tongatapu 1
CandidatePartyVotes%
ʻAkilisi PōhivaDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands1,37950.57
Netatua PelesikotiIndependent35212.91
Sione TukiaIndependent27910.23
Ofo-Mei-Vaha Tupou NiumeitoluIndependent1967.19
Mosese Teukiveiuto ManuofetoaIndependent1284.69
Siotame Drew HaveaIndependent1094.00
Siale ʻAtaongo PulokaIndependent802.93
ʻAna Kanume Bing FonuaIndependent792.90
Sione Keuate TupouniuaIndependent622.27
Barry Smith TaukoloIndependent491.80
ʻEliesa FifitaIndependent140.51
Total2,727100.00
Valid votes2,72799.74
Invalid/blank votes70.26
Total votes2,734100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 2
CandidatePartyVotes%
Semisi SikaDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands1,11152.09
Sione Tuʻitavake FonuaLangafonua 'a e Masiva46521.80
Soane Patita Vakautafefine FifitaIndependent27712.99
ʻEma Rererangi Fonua StephensonIndependent26012.19
Fisiʻipeau FaivaIndependent200.94
Total2,133100.00
Valid votes2,13399.86
Invalid/blank votes30.14
Total votes2,136100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 3
CandidatePartyVotes%
Siaosi SovaleniIndependent1,42144.34
Tevita PaluIndependent93229.08
Katalina TohiDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands60718.94
Mele Teusivi ʻAmanakiIndependent1594.96
Sitiveni HalapuaIndependent832.59
Tonga SoaneIndependent30.09
Total3,205100.00
Valid votes3,20599.84
Invalid/blank votes50.16
Total votes3,210100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 4
CandidatePartyVotes%
Mateni TapuelueluDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands1,46960.80
Seketi Foʻou FukoIndependent38816.06
ʻIsileli PuluLangafonua 'a e Masiva2168.94
Tevita Mateitalo Makameimoana MotulaloIndependent1385.71
Poli TuailevaIndependent1365.63
Litia SimpsonIndependent692.86
Total2,416100.00
Valid votes2,41699.75
Invalid/blank votes60.25
Total votes2,422100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 5
CandidatePartyVotes%
Losaline MaʻasiDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands1,03435.40
ʻAisake EkeLangafonua 'a e Masiva95332.63
ʻAna Hauʻalofaʻia KolotoIndependent52718.04
Feʻofaʻaki Taufonua LatuIndependent31110.65
Viliami Kini MangisiIndependent963.29
Total2,921100.00
Valid votes2,92199.80
Invalid/blank votes60.20
Total votes2,927100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 6
CandidatePartyVotes%
Poasi TeiDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands1,42548.77
Soane Taiofonongahina ʻAhioIndependent67223.00
Siosifa Tuʻitupou TuʻutafaivaLangafonua 'a e Masiva42514.54
Sione Tatafu Angakehe TafunaIndependent32511.12
Fisiʻitotoa ʻAhohiva KaufusiIndependent752.57
Total2,922100.00
Valid votes2,92299.83
Invalid/blank votes50.17
Total votes2,927100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 7
CandidatePartyVotes%
Sione Vuna FaʻotusiaDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands1,27348.74
Sione Sangster SaulalaLangafonua 'a e Masiva72627.79
Mavaetangi ManavahetauIndependent2178.31
Sione HufangaIndependent1917.31
ʻOlikoni TanakiIndependent1335.09
Talanoa Fuka KitekeiʻahoIndependent632.41
Tevita SilatoluIndependent90.34
Total2,612100.00
Valid votes2,61299.85
Invalid/blank votes40.15
Total votes2,616100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 8
CandidatePartyVotes%
Semisi FakahauDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands1,18246.90
Viliami SisifaIndependent59623.65
Penisimani TeisinaIndependent48419.21
Mosaʻati VaipuluIndependent1877.42
Viliami Kilisimasi TaufaIndependent712.82
Total2,520100.00
Valid votes2,52099.76
Invalid/blank votes60.24
Total votes2,526100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 9
CandidatePartyVotes%
Penisimani FifitaDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands1,30249.75
Siamelie LatuIndependent53720.52
Vika Vaka FusimalohiIndependent48818.65
Timote Tuʻiono Oliveti LaumeIndependent29011.08
Total2,617100.00
Valid votes2,61799.96
Invalid/blank votes10.04
Total votes2,618100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Tongatapu 10
CandidatePartyVotes%
Pōhiva TuʻiʻonetoaDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands1,63158.17
Soane KautaiIndependent59321.15
Loupua KuliIndependent40614.48
Daniel Kimball FaleIndependent1746.21
Total2,804100.00
Valid votes2,80499.86
Invalid/blank votes40.14
Total votes2,808100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
ʻEua 11
CandidatePartyVotes%
Tevita LavemaauIndependent78937.46
Taniela FusimalohiIndependent51924.64
Sunia FiliLangafonua 'a e Masiva47622.60
Sunia Kauvaka HaveaDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands31014.72
Hale TelepoIndependent60.28
Silivia Loumaile MaheIndependent60.28
Total2,106100.00
Valid votes2,10699.91
Invalid/blank votes20.09
Total votes2,108100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Haʻapai 12
CandidatePartyVotes%
Moʻale FinauDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands63539.84
Viliami HinganoIndependent58836.89
Finau Pulotu UataIndependent37123.27
Total1,594100.00
Valid votes1,59499.75
Invalid/blank votes40.25
Total votes1,598100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Haʻapai 13
CandidatePartyVotes%
Veivosa TakaDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands90556.88
ʻEsafe Hema LatuIndependent58937.02
ʻElikisoni LangiIndependent976.10
Total1,591100.00
Valid votes1,59199.81
Invalid/blank votes30.19
Total votes1,594100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Vavaʻu 14
CandidatePartyVotes%
Saia PiukalaDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands1,36661.28
Latu Niua LepoloIndependent49522.21
Matini Fatanitavake Maʻafu-ʻo-Veikune T. VeikuneIndependent36816.51
Total2,229100.00
Valid votes2,22999.91
Invalid/blank votes20.09
Total votes2,231100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Vavaʻu 15
CandidatePartyVotes%
Samiu VaipuluIndependent68432.33
Tomifa Faingaʻa PaeaDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands60828.73
Kulufeinga ʻAnisi BloomfieldIndependent49423.35
Keuli Pasina LavakiIndependent1848.70
Sinali Feʻiloaki HansenIndependent833.92
Tongovua FifitaIndependent632.98
Total2,116100.00
Valid votes2,11699.76
Invalid/blank votes50.24
Total votes2,121100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Vavaʻu 16
CandidatePartyVotes%
ʻAkosita LavulavuDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands93542.99
Viliami LatuIndependent74834.39
ʻAtalasa Misilemoti PouvaluIndependent29613.61
Viliami LoloheaIndependent1748.00
ʻAisea SilivenusiIndependent221.01
Total2,175100.00
Valid votes2,17599.77
Invalid/blank votes50.23
Total votes2,180100.00
Source: Tonga Elections
Ongo Niua 17
CandidatePartyVotes%
Vatau HuiDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands43851.11
Sosefo Feʻaomoeata VakataIndependent41948.89
Total857100.00
Valid votes857100.00
Invalid/blank votes00.00
Total votes857100.00
Source: Tonga Elections

Nobles

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Constituency Elected candidate Votes
‘Eua Lord Nuku 10
Ha‘apai Lord Tuʻihaʻangana 5
Fatafehi Fakafanua 3
Niuatoputapu and Niuafo'ou Mataʻiʻulua ʻi Fonuamotu 3
Tongatapu Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō 12
Maʻafu Tukuiʻaulahi 11
Lord Vaha‘i 7
Vava‘u Malakai Fakatoufifita 6
Tonga Tuʻiʻafitu 5
Source: Radio New Zealand

References

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  1. ^ "Tonga's general election set for November 16". 6 September 2017.
  2. ^ "Tongan King dissolves parliament, calls fresh elections". Radio New Zealand. 26 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  3. ^ "Tonga speaker claims govt's thirst for power drove him to King". Radio New Zealand. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  4. ^ "86 candidates contesting 17 seats". Matangi Tonga. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Tongan Parliament elects Pōhiva as PM for next four years". Asia Pacific Report. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  6. ^ Electoral system IPU
  7. ^ a b Last elections IPU
  8. ^ a b "Tongan Democrat landslide delivers numbers for Pohiva government". Asia Pacific Report. 17 November 2017. Archived from the original on 16 November 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  9. ^ "General Parliamentary Election Results 2017". Tonga Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 20 December 2017.
  10. ^ IFES
  11. ^ "Tonga 2017 General Election Results". Matangi Tonga. 16 November 2017. Archived from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.