A by-election was held in the Vavaʻu 16 constituency in Tonga on 14 July 2016. It followed the conviction and unseating of MP ‘Etuate Lavulavu for bribery and campaign overspending, in January.[1][2]
There were four candidates: ‘Akosita Lavulavu (wife of the unseated MP), Viliami Latu (who held the seat as an independent from 2010 to 2014), ‘Atalasa Pouvalu, and ‘Ipeni Siale.[3] The election was won by ‘Etuate Lavulavu's wife ‘Akosita Lavulavu, who thereby became the only female member in Parliament.[4][5]
Result
editThe results were as follows:[5]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | ‘Akosita Lavulavu | 754 | 39.4 % | n/a | |
| Independent (politician) | Viliami Latu | 536 | 28 % | +0.5 % | |
| (unknown) | ‘Atalasa Pouvalu | 343 | 17.9 % | n/a | |
| (unknown) | ‘Ipeni Siale | 280 | 14,7 % | −0.8 % | |
| Majority | 218 | 11.4 % | |||
| ‘Akosita Lavulavu gain from ‘Etuate Lavulavu | |||||
2014 result
editThe result in Vavaʻu 16 in the 2014 general election had been as follows:
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | ‘Etuate Lavulavu | 767 | 33.64 % | n/a | |
| Independent | Viliami Latu | 627 | 27.50 % | −16.2 % | |
| DPFI | ‘Ipeni Siale | 346 | 15.18 % | n/a | |
| (unknown) | Tupoulahi Manuofetoa | 212 | |||
| (unknown) | ‘Aisea Siliveinusi | 135 | |||
| (unknown) | Viliami Lolohea | 106 | |||
| (unknown) | ‘Ikani Taliai | 87 | |||
| Majority | 140 | 6.14 % | |||
| ‘Etuate Lavulavu gain from Viliami Latu | |||||
References
edit- ^ "By-election date set for vacant Tongan seats", Radio New Zealand, 2 February 2016
- ^ "By-election for Vavaʻu 16 set for July 14th", Tonga Broadcasting Corporation, 23 May 2016
- ^ "Four candidates for Vava’u 16 By-Election", Matangi Tonga, 21 June 2016
- ^ "Sole woman MP elected in Tonga", Radio New Zealand, 15 July 2016
- ^ a b "'Akosita wins Vava'u 16 By-election, becomes only woman in parliament", Matangi Tonga, 15 July 2016