Eight new MPs elected to Tonga parliament

Source: ForeignAffairs4

Source: Radio New Zealand

Eight new MPs have been elected to Tonga’s parliament in the general election amid a continuing decline in voter turnout.

Results released by the electoral commission overnight show six people’s representatives and two noble’s representatives among the new cohort of MPs.

Tonga’s caretaker Prime Minister Dr Aisake ‘Eke has retained his place in parliament for another term winning his constituency in the general election by nearly three-quarters of the electorate vote.

His predecessor Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni – who resigned from as prime minister in the face of a motion of no confidence last year – commanded similar support among his constituents at Thursday’s general election.

Both men will now hold people’s representative seats for Tongatapu in the new 26-member parliament.

In Tonga, the parliament is divided between 17 people’s representatives, which the general population vote for, and 9 nobles’ representatives, selected by the nobles in a separate election process.

The results for the peoples’ representatives were announced by the Supervisor of Elections Pita Vuki last night and broadcast live on local TV and radio.

Six of the new MPs are first-timers, while Semisi Sika – who won in one of the 10 Tongatapu constituencies – is back after losing his seat four years ago.

One of the most notable losers in the election results announced last night was the long-serving politician, Samiu Vaipulu, who has been in and out of parliament three times since 1987 with his latest run in the Vava’u seat lasting a decade. A political career totalling up to 31 years of service as an MP.

For the nobles’ seats, two new representatives were elected – Lord Veéhala in Eua and Lord Ma’afu in Tongatapu.

In regard to voter participation, just 49.4 percent or 31,988 of registered voters turned out to cast their ballots. The rate was even lower than the previous 2021 election turnout of 62 percent.

Vuki previously said the decline in voter participation was due to a range of reasons, including eligible voters being out of the country on polling day.

Currently, there’s no provision for overseas voting. He also said some people remained on the list even though they no longer lived in Tonga and were no longer eligible to vote.

However, unless the Electoral Commission received official notice of a change in residential country, it was not permitted to remove names.

Vuki also said he and his team would now await any potential requests for recounts of general election results.

“Some of the polls themselves are a bit close…so yeah, every election we expect a recount. But it’s up to the candidates,” Vuki said.

Under election rules, candidates are permitted to request a recount within seven days.

“So, by next Thursday we’ll know if there will be a recount,” he said.

Vuki said no issues with voting had arisen throughout Thursday.

“I drove around…most of the polling stations and had a look whether they had any issues and things, but I didn’t find any. I talked to polling officials. They were fine at the polling stations.”

Overall, more than 200 polling stations across Tonga’s islands operated throughout the day.

Stations for the general public opened at 9am and closed at 4pm. The nobles’ election took place at the palace office in Nuku’alofa. It began at 10am, and results were announced at about 1pm.

Following yesterday’s result, a handful of successful candidates, including ‘Eke, Hu’akavameiliku and Lord Fakafanua – the speaker of the house who retained his nobles’ seat – are expected to vie for the role of prime minister.

The position will be decided by the newly elected representatives through an election in parliament conducted via a secret ballot.

Following that, the successful candidate for prime minister nominates their cabinet ministers for the King to appoint.

The constitution also allows the prime minister to nominate up to four members of his cabinet from outside of parliament.

These ex-officio members of parliament, unless otherwise provided in any Act, sit and vote in the Legislative Assembly and have all the rights, duties and responsibilities of an elected representative except that they are not entitled to vote in any vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister.

2025 general election results

People’s representatives

• Tongatapu 1: Tevita Puloka
• Tongatapu 2: Semisi Sika (returns to parliament after losing seat in 2021)
• Tongatapu 3: Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni
• Tongatapu 4: Mateni Tapueluelu
• Tongatapu 5: ‘Aisake Eke
• Tongatapu 6: Fane Fituafe (newly elected)
• Tongatapu 7: Paula Piukala
• Tongatapu 8: Viliami Sisifa (newly elected)
• Tongatapu 9: Dr Sevenitini Toumo’ua
• Tongatapu 10: Kapelieli Lanumata
• Eua 11: Dr Taniela Fusimalohi
• Ha’apai 12: Saimone Vuki (newly elected)
• Ha’apai 13: Esafe Latu (newly elected)
• Vava’u 14: Dr Moale ‘Otunuku
• Vava’u 15: Dr Alani Tangitau (newly elected)
• Vava’u 16: Viliami Latu
• Niua 17: Latai Tangimana (newly elected)

Nobles representatives

Va’vau (2 reps)

• Incumbent Lord Tuiafitu 5 vote (re-elected)
• Incumbent Lord Tuilakepa 5 votes (re-elected)
• Lord Luani 3 votes
• Lord Fulivai 1 vote

Ha’apai (2 reps)

• Incumbent Lord Fakafanua 6 votes (re-elected)
• Incumbent Lord Tuihaangana 6 votes(re-elected)
• Lord Tuihaateiho 2 votes

Eua (1 rep)

• Lord Lasike 1 vote
• Lord Veéhala 20 votes (newly elected)

Tongatapu (3 reps)

• Lord Lasike 6 votes
• Lord Ma’afu 12 votes (newly elected)
• Lord Tu’ivakano 8 votes (elected)
• Lord Vaea 10 votes (elected)

Ongo Niua (1 rep)

• Lord Fotofili (won unopposed)

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand