IPU Logo    INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION
>>> VERSION FRANÇAISE  
   HOME -> PARLINE -> TONGA (Fale Alea)
Print this pagePrint this page
PARLINE database new searchNew search
TONGA
Fale Alea (Legislative Assembly)

This page contains the full text of the PARLINE database entry on the selected parliamentary chamber, with the exception of Specialized bodies modules which, because of their excessive length, can be only viewed and printed separately.

Modules:
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name (generic / translated) Fale Alea / Legislative Assembly
More photos  >>>
Structure of parliament Unicameral
Affiliation to the IPU Yes
Affiliation date(s) 2014 -
LEADERSHIP
President Lord Fakafanua (M) 
Notes Elected on 18 Dec. 2017, appointed by the King on 4 Jan. 2018.
Secretary General Gloria L Guttenbeil-Pole'o  (F) 
Notes Appointed on 28 Jan. 2013.
COMPOSITION
Members (statutory / current number) 30 / 27
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN


More statistics  >>>
Women (current number) 2 (7.41%)
Mode of designation directly elected 17
indirectly elected 9
other 1
Notes Indirectly elected members: nine nobles

In accordance with Clause 59 of the 2010 Constitution, the Legislative Assembly shall be composed of the representatives of the nobles (currently nine), the representatives of the people (currently 17) and all members of the Cabinet. The Cabinet may include no more than four persons who are not elected to the Legislative Assembly (Clause 51). The Legislative Assembly may thus comprise up to 30 members.
The new Cabinet, formed in January 2018, includes one member who was not elected to the Legislative Assembly. This currently brings the total number of Legislative Assembly members to 28.
Term 4 years
Last renewal dates 16 November 2017
(View details)
CONTACT INFORMATION
Address Legislative Assembly
P.O. Box 901
NUKU'ALOFA, Tongatapu Island
(Export mailing lists)
Phone (676) 23 565
24 455
Fax (676) 24 626
E-mail gloria_guttenbeil@yahoo.co.uk
Website
http://www.parliament.gov.to/

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Parliament name (generic / translated) Fale Alea / Legislative Assembly
Structure of parliament Unicameral
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Electoral law 6 May 2010
Mode of designation directly elected 17
indirectly elected 9
other 1
Constituencies 27 single-member constituencies: 10 in Tongatapu, three in Vava'u and two in Ha'apai and one each in 'Eua and Niuatoputapu/Niuafo'ou.
Voting system Majority: Single member plurality systems ("first past the post").
Candidates with the highest number of votes are declared elected.
Vacancies arising in seats held by representatives of nobles or the commoners are filled through by elections.
Voting is not compulsory.
Voter requirements - age: 21 years
- Tonga citizenship
- Registration on the electoral roll
- disqualifications: insanity, nobles, persons under summons for debt
CANDIDATES
Eligibility Qualified electors
- age: 21 years
- Tonga citizenship
- ineligibility: civil servants, persons with unpaid debts under court order
Incompatibilities - all offices of emolument under the Crown except those of Minister and Governor
Candidacy requirements Candidatures submitted by individuals
For directly elected members:
- supported by 50 qualified electors of the district concerned
- registration fee of $T 400 (US$ 200)

LAST ELECTIONS

Parliament name (generic / translated) Fale Alea / Legislative Assembly
Structure of parliament Unicameral
BACKGROUND
Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 16 November 2017
Timing and scope of renewal Snap elections in 2017 gave a resounding victory to the former Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva, dismissed by the King in August. Independent candidates (see note 1) supporting Mr. Pohiva took 14 of the 17 directly-elected seats - up from eight previously - in the 30-member Legislative Assembly (see note 2). Two women were elected, compared to none in 2014. Lord Tangi became the Acting Speaker to oversee the process of electing a Prime Minister. On 18 December, the Legislative Assembly re-elected Mr. Pohiva as Prime Minister.

On 24 August, King Tupou VI dissolved parliament and called snap elections, without giving any reasons but stating that he had received advice from the Speaker, Lord Tu'ivakano. In a statement issued on 28 August, the Speaker accused the Government of "attempting to concentrate powers in Cabinet by gradually weaning away the powers of the King in Privy Council" and having "trespassed on the King's powers to make treaties", citing the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus, signed by the Government in June 2017. On 30 August, the Attorney General said the signature of the treaty was not valid as it was not presented to the King for approval. The Government stated "The process is to sign first and then the ratification" by the King.

Note 1:
Tonga does not have a party system and all candidates formally ran as independents. The 14 independent candidates elected belong to the so-called Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (DPFI), led by the Prime Minister. The DPFI took eight seats in the 2014 elections.

Note 2:
The Legislative Assembly also comprises the representatives of the nobles (currently nine) and all members of the Cabinet. The Cabinet may include no more than four persons who are not elected to the Legislative Assembly (Clause 51 of the Constitution). The Legislative Assembly may thus comprise up to 30 members.
Date of previous elections: 27 November 2014

Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 24 August 2017

Timing of election: Early elections

Expected date of next elections: November 2021

Number of seats at stake: 17 (full renewal)

Number of candidates: 86 (71 men, 15 women)

Percentage of women candidates: 17.4%

Number of parties contesting the election: Tonga has no party system.

Number of parties winning seats: N/A

Alternation of power: No

Number of parties in government: N/A

Date of the first session of the new parliament: 18 December 2017

Name of the new Speaker: Lord Fakafanua
STATISTICS
Voter turnout
Round no 116 November 2017
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes
59'003
39'612 (67.14%)

Notes
Distribution of votes
Round no 1
Political group Candidates Votes % of votes
Distribution of seats
Round no 1
Political Group Total of seats
Distribution of seats according to sex
Men

Women

Percent of women
25

2

7.41%
Distribution of seats according to age
Distribution of seats according to profession
Comments
Note on the number of women
Two women were directly elected in 2017. The new Cabinet, formed in January 2018, includes one male member who was not elected to the Legislative Assembly. As cabinet ministers also sit in parliament, the Legislative Assembly comprises a total of 28 members of whom two were women.

Sources:
Legislative Assembly (20.11.2017, 16.01.2018, 17.01.2018)
Supervisor of Election (14.01.2018)
http://tongaelections.com/index.php/component/content/article/215-2017-general-elections-results
http://www.parliament.gov.to/~parliam1/images/Scan-170829-0001.pdf
http://matangitonga.to
http://www.radionz.co.nz/
http://www.eastasiaforum.org
http://www.pireport.org/

This page was last updated on 22 January 2018
Copyright 1996-2016 Inter-Parliamentary Union