Tonga
Legislative Assembly
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Political system
Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
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Monarchy
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Structure of parliament
Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
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Unicameral
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IPU membership
Current membership status
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Yes
Election results
Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.
Background
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Election date(s)
The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
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18 Nov 2021
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Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
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16 Sep 2021
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Timing of election
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
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Upon normal expiry
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Expected date of next elections
The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
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30 Nov 2025
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Number of seats at stake
Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
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17
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Scope of elections
Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
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Full renewal
Results
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About the election
Short description of the context and results of the election.
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At the 2021 polls, 12 new members were elected to the Legislative Assembly, which currently comprises 27 members (see note). No women were elected, down from two at the previous elections held in 2017. Although there are no political parties in Tonga, some candidates ran under the banner of two political groups in 2021: the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (PTOA) and the Tonga People's Party (TPP). Three members were elected under PTOA tickets, while one of its leaders, Mr. Siaosi Pohiva – the son of the late Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva – lost the seat that his father had held for more than three decades. Prime Minister Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa was elected under the TPP banner.
On 15 December, the newly elected Legislative Assembly held its first session and elected the former Deputy Prime Minister, Siaosi Sovaleni (independent), as the new Prime Minister. He defeated Mr. 'Aisake Eke (independent) who was backed in turn by the outgoing Prime Minister, Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa.
Note:
The elections were held for 17 directly elected seats (people) and 9 indirectly elected seats (nobles). Nine of the 17 commoners and 3 of the 9 nobles were newly elected to the Legislative Assembly.
In addition, all members of the Cabinet (which may include no more than four people who are not elected to the Legislative Assembly) sit in the Legislative Assembly. The new Cabinet, formed on 29 December 2021, included one (woman) non-elected member, thereby increasing the total number of members in the Legislative Assembly to 27.
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Alternation of power after elections
The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
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No
Members elected, by sex
- Number of men elected
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17
- Number of women elected
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0
Notes:
- The Legislative Assembly is composed of representatives of the nobles (currently 9), representatives of the people (currently 17) and all members of the Cabinet. The Cabinet may include no more than four people who are not elected to the Legislative Assembly.
- No women were elected at the elections in November 2021.
- The Cabinet formed in December 2021 included one non-elected person, Mrs. Fekitamoeloa 'Utoikamanu, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism. There was thus one woman among the 27-member Legislative Assembly.
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Percentage of women elected
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected by the number of seats filled.
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0.0%
- Women Directly Elected
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0
- Women Indirectly Elected
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0
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Women in other categories
For example, ex-officio members of parliament, such as Cabinet members, members of the royal family, Attorney General, Speaker if appointed from outside parliament
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1
- Other notes on the elections
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Note on the first Speaker of the new legislature:
On 20 November 2021, King Tupou VI appointed Lord Tangi as the interim Speaker. Lord Tangi has been tasked with leading the constitutional process to elect the Prime Minister Designate, who himself will be officially elected by the Legislative Assembly. The Speaker of the outgoing legislature Lord Fakafanua was re-elected as the Speaker when the new legislature convened on 15 December.
- Sources
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Legislative Assembly (10.12.2021, 20.12.2021, 29.12.2021)
New legislature
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Total number of men after the election
The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
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26
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Total number of women after the election
The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
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1
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Percentage of women after the election
The percentage is calculated by dividing the total number of women in this parliament/chamber by the current number of members.
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3.7%
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First-term parliamentarians
The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.
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No information available
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Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of first-term parliamentarians by the number of seats at stake in the election.
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No information available
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Date of the first session
The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
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15 Dec 2021
First Speaker of the new legislature
- Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
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Lord Fakafanua (Male)
Date of birth: 20 Mar 1985 -
Date of election
The date of the election of the Speaker may be different from the date of the first session of the new legislature.
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15 Dec 2021