Info
Parties and Candidates
PC001
Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
a . Signature requirement (specify requirement) b . Deposit requirement (specify amount)
Comments: The legislation does not specify any registration requirements for political parties, in fact there are no official political parties. There are only specific qualification requirements for candidates.
Source: Electoral Act 1989 Section 9 (2): https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/TO/tonga-electoral-act-1989-1 (2021)
Verified: 2021/09/15
PC003
Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
a . Age b . Citizenship f . Registration i . Minimum level of literacy j . Other
Comments: a) 21 years old;
f) Every candidate shall be nominated in writing in accordance with Form 4 of the Schedule signed by 50 persons who are qualified electors for that electoral district. The candidate shall assent to the nomination in writing by fixing his signature to the nomination paper.
i) Candidates must be able to read and write.
j) At the time of nomination the candidate shall deposit to the returning officer the sum of $200.
Source: Constitution of Tonga, Art.64, 65: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/TO/Tonga%20Act%20of%20Constitution%201988.pdf/view (2021);
Electoral Act (as amended in 2010), Art. 9 (2, 3): https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/TO/tonga-electoral-act-1989-1 (2021)
Verified: 2021/09/15
PC008
Independent candidates
Question: Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):
c . In legislative elections (Chamber 1)
Comments: Any person who is qualified to be an elector may be chosen as a representative provided that s/he adheres to the other specified requirements stated in the law and the constitution.
Source: Constitution of Tonga, Art. 64, 65: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/TO/Tonga%20Act%20of%20Constitution%201988.pdf/view (2021)
Verified: 2021/09/15
PC012
Public funding of parties
Question: Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):
f . Not applicable
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2021/09/15
PC015
Question: What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):
f . No information available
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2021/09/15
PC017
Question: Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: No candidate may spend, on any election campaign, more than the sum of $10,000. This includes: any donation made within 6 months of an election, either by a candidate or on his behalf, the cost of any entertaining (including food, drink or provision) paid by or on behalf of a candidate within 6 months of an election and travelling or transportation expenses paid by or on behalf of a candidate, to enable people to travel to a polling station.
Within 14 days after an election, every candidate shall deliver to the Supervisor a sworn statement of his election expenses. It is an offence for any candidate to spend on an election campaign more than the sum of $10,000 or to fail to deliver the statement.
Source: Electoral Act (1989) Art. 24: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/TO/tonga-electoral-act-1989-1 (2021)
Electoral Act (as amended in 2010), Art. 19: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/TO/tonga-electoral-amendment-act-2010/view (2021)
Verified: 2021/09/15
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Additional, but potentially outdated material is available here.
