2014 Tongan general election

General elections were held in Tonga on 27 November 2014.[1] All twenty-six elected seats in the single-chamber Legislative Assembly were up for election, although the monarch, acting on the advice of his Prime Minister, retains the possibility to appoint members to Cabinet from outside Parliament, thus granting them a non-elected ex officio seat in Parliament.

2014 Tongan general election

← 2010 27 November 2014 2017 →

17 of the 26 seats in the Legislative Assembly
  First party
 
Leader ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
Party DPFI
Last election 28.49%, 12 seats
Seats won 9
Seat change Decrease 3
Popular vote 13,548
Percentage 33.34%
Swing Increase 4.85pp

Results by constituency

Prime Minister before election

Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō
Independent

Subsequent Prime Minister

ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
DPFI

They were the second elections carried out under the May 2010 electoral law, which provided that a majority of Assembly members should be elected by the people, rather than the people and the nobility having equal representation.[2] The November 2010 general election was the first held under this new democratic principle; it was also the first to produce a Parliament empowered to give binding advice to the King as to the appointment of a Prime Minister.[2]

Background

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In the 2010 general elections, the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (DPFI), led by veteran pro-democracy activist ʻAkilisi Pohiva, had won twelve of the people's seventeen seats, with the rest going to independent candidates. (The representatives of the nobility, for their part, never belong to any political party.) Pohiva, the MP for Tongatapu 1, had sought to become Prime Minister, but the nobles and independent people's representatives entrusted Lord Tuʻivakanō with the task of forming a government, relegating the DPFI to the status of a de facto parliamentary opposition.[2]

Considering that the reforms introduced in 2010 were merely to be viewed as a first step in the process of democratisation, the DPFI introduced a bill in October 2013 (via ʻAisake Eke, MP for Tongatapu 5) which would have empowered the people to elect the Prime Minister directly from among the twenty-six elected members of Parliament, instead of the King appointing a Prime Minister from among those members on the advice of Parliament. The bill was rejected by fifteen votes to six, failing even to secure the support of all DPFI members.[3]

Nonetheless, Pohiva immediately announced that, in early 2014, his party would submit a bill for electoral reform, so that all twenty-six members of the Assembly be elected by the people. The nobility would still retain their existing nine seats, but those nobles would be elected by the people. Pohiva suggested this would make "the whole Parliament [...] accountable to the people and not as we have it now".[4] Dr Malakai Koloamatangi of Massey University commented that it was probably too late for any such reform to apply to the 2014 election.[5]

Electoral system

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Under the electoral reforms introduced prior to the 2010 election, Tonga is divided into seventeen single-member constituencies for the election of the people's representatives. These overlap with the four constituencies for the election of the nobles' representatives: a four-member constituency covering Tongatapu and ʻEua, a two-member constituency covering Vavaʻu, a two-member constituency covering Haʻapai, and a single-member constituency covering the islands of Niuafoʻou and Niuatoputapu. In both types of constituency, the first-past-the-post electoral system is applied.[2]

All Tongan citizens aged at least 21, other than noble title holders and members of the Royal Family who hold noble titles, are entitled to elect the people's representative for their constituency. "Persons under summons for debt" and those diagnosed as insane are excluded from the right to vote.[2] As for the nobles' constituencies, the right to vote is granted to hereditary peers and life peers, although only hereditary peers are entitled to be elected. There are thirty-three titles of hereditary nobility, which can be inherited only by men, and which entitle the bearer to the title of "Lord". Some of these titles are periodically vacant, and some are held by members of the Royal Family. As of 2013, eight commoners (all of them men) had been elevated by the monarchy to a life peerage, which likewise entitled them to the title of "Lord".[6]

Results

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PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands13,54833.349–3
Sustainable Nation-Building Party5581.3700
People's Democratic Party5181.2700
Tongan Democratic Labor Party1510.3700
Independents25,85763.648+3
Nobles' representatives90
Total40,632100.00260
Valid votes40,63299.77
Invalid/blank votes950.23
Total votes40,727100.00
Registered voters/turnout51,44879.16
Source: TEC, Psephos, IFES

By constituency

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Tongatapu 1
CandidatePartyVotes%
ʻAkilisi PohivaDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands1,48253.77
William CockerIndependent44816.26
Mosese Teu-Ki-Veiuto ManuofetoaIndependent34512.52
Ilisapesi Tau'akitangata Seli BakerIndependent1916.93
Ana Kanume Bing FonuaIndependent1324.79
Emeline 'Uheina TuitaIndependent752.72
Eliesa FifitaIndependent752.72
Soloni LutuiIndependent80.29
Total2,756100.00
Valid votes2,75699.53
Invalid/blank votes130.47
Total votes2,769100.00
Source: TEC
Tongatapu 2
CandidatePartyVotes%
Semisi SikaDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands1,09148.36
Sione Tu'itavake FonuaSustainable Nation-Building Party54324.07
Tevita Kaitu'u FotuIndependent43619.33
Soane Patita Vakautafefine FifitaIndependent1868.24
Total2,256100.00
Valid votes2,25699.60
Invalid/blank votes90.40
Total votes2,265100.00
Source: TEC
Tongatapu 3
CandidatePartyVotes%
Siaosi SovaleniIndependent99933.72
Tevita PaluIndependent71124.00
Clive EdwardsPeople's Democratic Party51817.48
Mesuilame Simote VeaDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands45915.49
Mele Teusivi 'AmanakiTongan Democratic Labor Party1515.10
Gabriella Renne Blake 'IlolahiaIndependent1103.71
Paula LavuloSustainable Nation-Building Party150.51
Total2,963100.00
Valid votes2,96399.80
Invalid/blank votes60.20
Total votes2,969100.00
Source: TEC
Tongatapu 4
CandidatePartyVotes%
Mateni TapuelueluDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands78331.96
ʻIsileli PuluIndependent57023.27
Etika KokaIndependent49220.08
Seketi Fo'ou FukoIndependent24810.12
Etuate 'Eniti SakaliaIndependent1686.86
Poli TuailevaIndependent943.84
Tevita 'Ita KoloamatangiIndependent542.20
Felise 'UlupanoIndependent371.51
Tominiko Setefano Folaumotuita KamaIndependent40.16
Total2,450100.00
Valid votes2,45099.51
Invalid/blank votes120.49
Total votes2,462100.00
Source: TEC
Tongatapu 5
CandidatePartyVotes%
ʻAisake EkeDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands1,68258.24
Maliu TakaiIndependent1,09037.74
Lia Manatu FaoaIndependent722.49
Viliami Kini Tukia H.P. MangisiIndependent441.52
Total2,888100.00
Valid votes2,88899.65
Invalid/blank votes100.35
Total votes2,898100.00
Source: TEC
Tongatapu 6
CandidatePartyVotes%
Poasi TeiIndependent1,03635.70
Salesi Finau Hu'ia FotuDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands91231.43
Siosifa Tuʻitupou TuʻutafaivaIndependent62921.67
Sione Tatafu Angakehe TafunaIndependent32511.20
Total2,902100.00
Valid votes2,90299.76
Invalid/blank votes70.24
Total votes2,909100.00
Source: TEC
Tongatapu 7
CandidatePartyVotes%
Sione Vuna FaʻotusiaIndependent82230.75
Sione Sangster SaulalaIndependent76228.51
Sipola Fakaanga Havili HalafihiDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands68625.66
Mavaetangi ManavahetauIndependent1997.44
Atalasa Misilemoti PouvaluIndependent993.70
Pinomi PrescottIndependent411.53
Amanaki Paea MolitikaIndependent331.23
Siosifa Filini SikueaIndependent311.16
Total2,673100.00
Valid votes2,67399.81
Invalid/blank votes50.19
Total votes2,678100.00
Source: TEC
Tongatapu 8
CandidatePartyVotes%
Semisi FakahauDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands1,01638.81
Tevita Tu'i UataIndependent89534.19
Sione TaioneIndependent66325.32
Mafile'o MataeleIndependent321.22
Sipaisi KutuIndependent120.46
Total2,618100.00
Valid votes2,61899.89
Invalid/blank votes30.11
Total votes2,621100.00
Source: TEC
Tongatapu 9
CandidatePartyVotes%
Penisimani FifitaDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands69225.86
Vika FusimalohiIndependent61823.09
Falisi TupouIndependent57121.34
Tevita Tupu 'OfaIndependent50618.91
Samipeni Uaine FinauIndependent1997.44
Lemasingo Tania NaiIndependent903.36
Total2,676100.00
Valid votes2,67699.74
Invalid/blank votes70.26
Total votes2,683100.00
Source: TEC
Tongatapu 10
CandidatePartyVotes%
Pohiva Tu'i'onetoaDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands1,40246.29
Faka'osilea KaufusiIndependent84527.90
Daniel Kimball FaleIndependent45214.92
Semisi TapuelueluIndependent2859.41
Seini TeuIndependent451.49
Total3,029100.00
Valid votes3,02999.80
Invalid/blank votes60.20
Total votes3,035100.00
Source: TEC
ʻEua 11
CandidatePartyVotes%
Tevita LavemaauDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands76035.22
Sunia FiliIndependent71633.18
Taniela FusimalohiIndependent61828.64
Suliasi Pouvalu Fonise 'AholeleiIndependent572.64
Silivia Loumaile MaheIndependent70.32
Total2,158100.00
Valid votes2,15899.95
Invalid/blank votes10.05
Total votes2,159100.00
Source: TEC
Haʻapai 12
CandidatePartyVotes%
Viliami HinganoIndependent53531.32
Moʻale FinauDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands53231.15
Pita Faiva TaufatofuaIndependent39623.19
Pita ViIndependent1589.25
Tu'ivaita UeleniIndependent694.04
Latiume KaufusiIndependent181.05
Total1,708100.00
Valid votes1,70899.94
Invalid/blank votes10.06
Total votes1,709100.00
Source: TEC
Haʻapai 13
CandidatePartyVotes%
Veivosa TakaDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands82349.46
Samiuela Takapuna FangalokaIndependent44326.62
Sosaia Langitoto HeluIndependent1569.38
Anau Ki Lifuka 'AnauIndependent1398.35
Sione Talanoa FifitaIndependent1036.19
Total1,664100.00
Valid votes1,66499.94
Invalid/blank votes10.06
Total votes1,665100.00
Source: TEC
Vavaʻu 14
CandidatePartyVotes%
Saia PiukalaIndependent1,23250.43
Lisiate ʻAkoloIndependent73930.25
Latu Niua LepoloDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands27211.13
Matini F.M.'O.V.T.T. VeikuneIndependent793.23
Tu'amelie H. Faitu'a Kemoe'atuIndependent702.87
Tongovua T. Toloke AppletonIndependent341.39
Taniela Fakalolo KivaluIndependent170.70
Total2,443100.00
Valid votes2,44399.84
Invalid/blank votes40.16
Total votes2,447100.00
Source: TEC
Vavaʻu 15
CandidatePartyVotes%
Samiu VaipuluIndependent74733.65
Tomifa PaeaIndependent52423.60
Kulufeinga 'Anisi BloomfieldDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands47221.26
Keuli Pasina LavakiIndependent1667.48
Sione Sosefo Fitu MailangiIndependent954.28
Alekisio Kaita'eifoIndependent773.47
Alwyn Thomas MoaIndependent361.62
Elieta Sapate TokeIndependent311.40
Salesi KauvakaIndependent271.22
Viliami Kaufusi HeluIndependent200.90
Viliami PasikalaIndependent160.72
Henele Tu'ulau FonongaIndependent90.41
Total2,220100.00
Valid votes2,22099.82
Invalid/blank votes40.18
Total votes2,224100.00
Source: TEC
Vavaʻu 16
CandidatePartyVotes%
‘Etuate LavulavuIndependent76733.64
Viliami LatuIndependent62727.50
Ipeni 'Alamoni SialeDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands34615.18
Tupoulahi ManuofetoaIndependent2129.30
Aisea SilivenusiIndependent1355.92
Viliami LoloheaIndependent1064.65
Ikani Loneli TaliaiIndependent873.82
Total2,280100.00
Valid votes2,28099.78
Invalid/blank votes50.22
Total votes2,285100.00
Source: TEC
Ongo Niua 17
CandidatePartyVotes%
Sosefo Feʻaomoeata VakataIndependent51954.75
Vatau HuiIndependent29130.70
Sione Peauafi HaukinimaDemocratic Party of the Friendly Islands13814.56
Total948100.00
Valid votes94899.89
Invalid/blank votes10.11
Total votes949100.00
Source: TEC

Nobles

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Constituency Elected candidate Votes
'Eua Lord Nuku 7
Ha'apai Lord Tuʻihaʻateiho 4
Lord Tu'iha'angana 4
Niuatoputapu and Niuafo'ou Lord Fusitu’a 2
Tongatapu ʻAlipate Tuʻivanuavou Vaea 11
Maʻafu Tukuiʻaulahi 10
Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō 8
Vava'u Tonga Tuʻiʻafitu 5
Lord Tu'ilakepa 4
Source: Tonga Portal

References

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  1. ^ "MP proposes bill to dissolve government", Matangi Tonga, 21 October 2013
  2. ^ a b c d e "Tonga: Fale Alea (Legislative Assembly)", Interparliamentary Union
  3. ^ "Parliament rejects a Bill to change Tonga's electoral system", Matangi Tonga, 24 October 2013
  4. ^ "Tonga Democrats to table more reform plans", Radio New Zealand International, 30 October 2013
  5. ^ "Tonga reform push too late before elections, says academic", Radio New Zealand International, 31 October 2013
  6. ^ "Nobles" Archived 2016-03-30 at the Wayback Machine, Tongan Ministry of Information