MOST RECENT ELECTIONS:

Parliamentary, 24 April 2008

Description of Electoral System:

(courtesy of wikipedia)

The Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea has 30 members, 9 members elected for a three year term in multi-seat constituencies, 9 members elected for a three year term by the 33 hereditary nobles of Tonga, 10 members of the Privy Council and 2 governors.

Electoral Systems Snapshot

(Courtesy of International IDEA)

*Click on links for definitions

WANT MORE ELECTION RELATED STATS FOR TONGA? Go to "election databases" on the left-hand menu of this page OR comparative data on the right-hand menu and choose your area of interest.

Political Parties and Elections

(courtesy of wikipedia)

The electoral system does not allow any party to achieve power; only one party exists in opposition. The electoral system, in which commoners (i.e. non-nobles) directly elect only nine of the thirty seats in the Fale, does not allow political parties to form a government. Parties exist as pressure groups rather than electoral vehicles or patronage dispensers. Currently a majority of the commoners in parliament belong to the Human Rights and Democracy Movement. The People's Democratic Party was the first registered party.

Most Recent Election

(courtesy of wikipedia)

Parliamentary elections were held in Tonga on 23 April and 24 April 2008 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly. The nobles were elected on 23 April, and the nine people's representatives on 24 April. A total of 32,000 people turned out to vote, giving a turnout of 48%.

71 candidates had filed for the people's representatives' seats, among them eight women. All nine incumbents stood for reelection, with six retaining their seats. Most of the pro-democracy MPs were returned, despite several facing charges of sedition over the 2006 Nuku'alofa riots^. Reportedly, all nine elected MPs were pro-democracy activists.

These elections were the last ones before democratic reforms expected to be implemented in 2010, which would change the seat balance as follows: 17 MPs would be popularly elected, nine MPs would be elected by the nobles and four MPs appointed by the king.

Viliami Uasike Latu requested a recount in Vava'u, the constituency he contested, as he missed out on the second seat there by only 51 votes; the recount will be held within a week.