2025 Tongan general election
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17 of the 26 seats in the Legislative Assembly | |||
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General elections will be held in Tonga by 30 November 2025.[1] ʻAisake Eke became prime minister in January 2025. He succeeded Siaosi Sovaleni, who served from 2021 until his resignation in December 2024, shortly before a planned no-confidence motion, which Eke introduced.
Background
[edit]2021 general election
[edit]At the 2021 general election, independents won the most seats, securing 13.[2] The Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (PTOA) won majorities in most constituencies.[3] However, the party had been plagued by divisions since party founder and Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva's death in 2019.[4] The two rival claimants to the party's leadership, Semisi Sika and Pōhiva's son Siaosi Pōhiva,[5] along with their factions, each fielded a separate list of candidates, which led to vote-splitting that benefited independents.[3] The PTOA won only three seats,[6] down from the 14 it secured in 2017.[7] Both Sika and Pōhiva lost their seats.[3] Prime Minister Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa was the only successful candidate from his Tonga People's Party.[8] No women were elected.[6]
Following the election, three MPs declared their candidacies for prime minister: incumbent Prime Minister Tuʻiʻoneto, former Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni and former Finance Minister ʻAisake Eke.[9] Tuʻiʻoneto later withdrew, allegedly due to a lack of support in parliament,[10] and backed Eke. In a parliamentary vote on 15 December, Sovaleni defeated Eke.[11][12] Sovaleni announced his new cabinet on 29 December, which included one woman, Fekitamoeloa ʻUtoikamanu, who was appointed foreign minister.[13]
2024 constitutional crisis
[edit]On 2 February 2024, while Sovaleni was in New Zealand for medical treatment, King Tupou VI revoked his armed forces portfolio and dismissed ʻUtoikamanu from the foreign affairs and tourism portfolios reportedly without explanation. Cabinet initially rejected the king's decrees,[14][15] culminating in a constitutional crisis, with Attorney-General Linda Folaumoetuʻi stating that the dismissals were unconstitutional.[16] Some MPs then accused Sovaleni of insulting the king, which he denied. In April, Sovaleni and ʻUtoikamanu agreed to accept the king's decrees and relinquished their respective portfolios.[17]
No-confidence motions and resignation of Sovaleni
[edit]Sovaleni survived a no-confidence motion on 6 September 2023, which Eke filed. Sovaleni received the support of 14 MPs, who voted to keep him in office. A rare split occurred among the nobles' representatives, with three voting for the motion and others supporting Sovaleni. Eke tabled the motion, accusing Sovaleni of corruption, mismanagement, and poor governance.[18] On 23 November 2024, Eke submitted a second motion against Sovaleni.[19] Before parliamentary debate could begin on the motion, Sovaleni resigned on 9 December.[20] Parliament elected Eke as prime minister on 24 December, defeating Viliame Latu.[21] Eke assumed office on 22 January 2025.[22] His cabinet was inaugurated on 28 January, which included four ministers who Eke also appointed members of parliament. Among the appointed MPs were two women and one noble, Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala, who became foreign minister and minister for His Majesty's Armed Forces.[23]
Electoral system
[edit]The Legislative Assembly of Tonga has up to 30 members, of which 17 are directly elected by first-past-the-post voting from single-member constituencies. The island of Tongatapu has ten constituencies, Vavaʻu three, Haʻapai two and ʻEua and Niuatoputapu/Niuafoʻou have one each.[24] Nine seats are held by members of the nobility who elect representatives amongst themselves. The Cabinet formed by a prime minister may include up to four members not elected to the Assembly, who then automatically become members of the legislature.[25] Unless the monarch dissolves the Legislative Assembly early, members serve a four-year term.[26]
Candidates and voters are required to be at least 21 years old and hold Tongan citizenship. Ineligible voters include those who have served a prison sentence of at least two years and individuals convicted of a criminal offence.[24] To qualify, candidates are required to be eligible voters and present in Tonga for at least a three-month period within the six months before an election.[27] Candidates running for a people's seat also require the signatures of at least 50 qualified electors from the constituency they contest and a deposit to be paid. Individuals subject to legal action for outstanding debt are ineligible to be contestants.[24]
References
[edit]- ^ "Kingdom of Tonga". IFES Election Guide. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "Kingdom of Tonga Legislative Elections of 18 November 2021". Psephos. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ a b c "A sobering reality hits PTOA after election losses; voters elect nine new faces". Kaniva Tonga. 18 November 2021. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ "More friction revealed among Tonga's PTOA members". Radio New Zealand. 25 April 2020. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ Latu, Kalino (16 September 2021). "Prime Minister could benefit as Democrat factionalism looks to split opposition vote". Kaniva Tonga. Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ a b Tora, Iliesa (19 November 2021). "New faces, no women and disappointments". Nukuʻalofa Times. Nukuʻalofa. Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ "Landslide victory for Democrats in Tongan election". New Zealand Herald. 16 November 2017. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ Moala, Kalafi (20 November 2021). "Election 2021 – the end of an era!". Talanoa O Tonga. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ Latu, Kalino (6 December 2021). "ANALYSIS: Tonga in search for viable, credible PM; the best of best has yet to come". Kaniva Tonga. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ Latu, Kalino (7 December 2021). "First photo emerges as Sovaleni gets support of 11 MPs; Tu'i'onetoa allegedly withdraws from premiership race". Kaniva Tonga. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ "MPs choose Siaosi Sovaleni as new prime minister". Kaniva Tonga. 15 December 2021. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ Fonua, Pesi (15 December 2021). "School drop-outs, illegal drugs and health three major concerns for Tonga's new PM Designate". Matangi Tonga. Nukuʻalofa. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ "PM names new government". Matangi Tonga. Nukuʻalofa. 29 December 2021. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ Fonua, Finau (2 March 2024). "Nobles demand Tonga PM to respect King's decision - 'I love my King', Hu'akavameiliku says". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ "Cabinet refutes King's orders, claiming it goes against Constitution". Matangi Tonga. 6 February 2024. Archived from the original on 23 December 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ "Tonga Prime Minister has final call on ministers, not the King - former attorney-general". Radio New Zealand. 6 February 2024. Archived from the original on 12 November 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ "Tonga ministers quit amid standoff with powerful monarch". Al Jazeera. 4 April 2024. Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ Fonua, Finau (11 September 2023). "Tonga's no confidence vote against PM spotlights political fracture". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 20 December 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ "Second motion of no confidence planned against Tongan Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku". Radio New Zealand. 25 November 2025. Archived from the original on 12 December 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ Hawkins, Koroi; Lewis, Lydia (9 December 2024). "'Respect his decision': Tonga PM Hu'akavameiliku resigns". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 22 January 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ Persico, Christina; Tora, Iliesa (24 December 2024). "'Aisake Eke is Tonga's new prime minister". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 7 January 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ "King appoints Dr. 'Aisake Eke as Tonga's new Prime Minister". Talanoa O Tonga. 22 January 2025. Archived from the original on 24 January 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ Tupou Vaipulu Jr. (28 January 2025). "Crown Prince named as member of new cabinet". Matangi Tonga. Nukuʻalofa. Archived from the original on 28 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- ^ a b c "Electoral system". Inter-Parliamentary Union. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
- ^ "Last elections". Inter-Parliamentary Union. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
- ^ "Article 77" (PDF). Constitution of Tonga. Constitute Project. 1875. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
- ^ "Article 65" (PDF). Constitution of Tonga. Constitute Project. 1875. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
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