2008 Tongan general election
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General elections were held in Tonga on 23 and 24 April 2008 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly.[1] The nobles were elected on 23 April, and the nine people's representatives on 24 April.[2] A total of 32,000 people turned out to vote, giving a turnout of 48%.[3]
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23–24 April 2008
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18 of the 30 seats in the Legislative Assembly | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 46.69% ( 3.83pp) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
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71 candidates had filed for the people's representatives' seats, among them eight women. All nine incumbents stood for reelection, with six retaining their seats.[4] Most of the pro-democracy MPs were returned, despite several facing charges of sedition over the 2006 Nukuʻalofa riots.[5] Reportedly, all nine elected MPs were pro-democracy activists.[6]
These elections were the last ones before democratic reforms expected to be implemented in 2010, which would change the seat balance as follows: 17 MPs would be popularly elected, nine MPs would be elected by the nobles and four MPs appointed by the king.[7]
Viliami Uasike Latu requested a recount in Vavaʻu, the constituency he contested, as he missed out on the second seat there by only 51 votes. The recount was conducted from 5 to 9 May at the Office of the Governor of Vavaʻu,[8] and confirmed the original result.[9]
Controversy
About two weeks before the election, it was announced that the Tonga Broadcasting Commission would henceforth censor candidates' political broadcasts,[10] and that TBC reporters would be banned from reporting on political matters, allegedly because they lacked the necessary training for objective coverage.[11] The decision was criticised by the Pacific Islands News Association, and New Zealand's Minister of Revenue, Peter Dunne, commented that it was "unfortunate".[12] Tonga Review said that the decision was a restriction on freedom of speech, and compared Tonga with Zimbabwe,[13] a comparison rejected by the TBC.[14] Tongan MP Clive Edwards said that the TBC's decision was aimed at stifling criticism of the government in the lead-up to the election,[15] and to hamper the re-election chances of pro-democracy MPs.[16] Pesi Fonua, head of the Tonga Media Council, said that the election "very much depends on how the candidates present themselves", and that censorship would "definitely have an impact".[17]
Results
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
| Human Rights and Democracy Movement | 21,995 | 28.47 | 4 | –3 | |
| People's Democratic Party | 10,828 | 14.02 | 2 | New | |
| Independents | 44,423 | 57.51 | 3 | +1 | |
| Nobles' representatives | 9 | 0 | |||
| Royal appointees | 12 | 0 | |||
| Total | 77,246 | 100.00 | 30 | 0 | |
| Total votes | 32,091 | – | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 68,730 | 46.69 | |||
| Source: Psephos, IPU | |||||
By constituency
People's Representatives
| Constituency | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eua | Sunia Fili | Human Rights and Democracy Movement | 861 | 35.4 | Elected | |
| Tevita Lavemaau | Independent | 510 | 21.0 | |||
| Tevita Tupou | Independent | 446 | 18.3 | |||
| Siosaia Hausia | Independent | 279 | 11.5 | |||
| Tuʻipulotu Lauaki | Independent | 137 | 5.6 | |||
| ʻAsipeli Mafi | Independent | 130 | 5.3 | |||
| Veisinia Tupou Tuʻitakau Kaho | Independent | 56 | 2.3 | |||
| Hakeai Vea Havea | Independent | 12 | 0.5 | |||
| Haʻapai | ʻUliti Uata | Human Rights and Democracy Movement | 2,555 | 29.7 | Elected | |
| Sione Teisina Fuko | People's Democratic Party | 1,404 | 16.3 | Elected | ||
| Moʻale Finau | Independent | 1,256 | 14.6 | |||
| ʻOsai Latu | Independent | 1,062 | 12.3 | |||
| Siosaia K Maʻake Paluto | Independent | 885 | 10.3 | |||
| Sione Tuʻitupou Fotu | Independent | 412 | 4.8 | |||
| Lopeti Kamipeli Tofa | Independent | 409 | 4.8 | |||
| Siaosi Vaikona | Independent | 318 | 3.7 | |||
| Sosaia Finau | Independent | 309 | 3.6 | |||
| Niuafoʻou and Niuatoptapu | Sione Feingatau ʻIloa | Independent | 476 | 36.6 | Elected | |
| Sione Haukinima | Independent | 367 | 28.2 | |||
| Lepolo Taunisila | Human Rights and Democracy Movement | 241 | 18.5 | |||
| ʻOfa Simiki | Independent | 217 | 16.7 | |||
| Tongatapu | ʻAkilisi Pōhiva | Human Rights and Democracy Movement | 11,290 | 22.4 | Elected | |
| ʻIsileli Pulu | Human Rights and Democracy Movement | 7,048 | 14.0 | Elected | ||
| Clive Edwards | People's Democratic Party | 6,697 | 13.3 | Elected | ||
| Sione Sangster Saulala | Independent | 5,461 | 10.8 | |||
| ʻInoke Fotu Huʻakau | Independent | 2,802 | 5.6 | |||
| Sione Fonua | Independent | 2,768 | 5.5 | |||
| Semisi Palu ʻIfoni Tapueluelu | People's Democratic Party | 2,727 | 5.4 | |||
| Mele Teusivi ʻAmanaki | Independent | 1,523 | 3.0 | |||
| Semisi ʻOfa Fukofuka | Independent | 1,150 | 2.3 | |||
| Mateitalo Folaumoetao Mahuʻinga | Independent | 1,136 | 2.3 | |||
| ʻAlisi Pone Fotu | Independent | 1,082 | 2.1 | |||
| Sitiveni Takaetali Finau | Independent | 922 | 1.8 | |||
| Mateaki Ki he Lotu Heimuli | Independent | 828 | 1.6 | |||
| Latanoa Pikula | Independent | 765 | 1.5 | |||
| Sateki Finau | Independent | 675 | 1.3 | |||
| Filimone Fifita | Independent | 649 | 1.3 | |||
| Sulunga Lavaka | Independent | 544 | 1.1 | |||
| ʻAkanete Taʻai Lauti | Independent | 454 | 0.9 | |||
| Sione Tuʻiʻonetoa | Independent | 354 | 0.7 | |||
| Salesi Kauvaka | Independent | 269 | 0.5 | |||
| Tupou Malohi | Independent | 259 | 0.5 | |||
| ʻAlani Fisher Taione | Independent | 184 | 0.4 | |||
| Semisi Nauto Tuapasi ʻAtaʻata | Independent | 175 | 0.3 | |||
| Malu Faletau | Independent | 145 | 0.3 | |||
| ʻEliu Hafoka | Independent | 141 | 0.3 | |||
| Punalei Nuku | Independent | 124 | 0.2 | |||
| Hoatatau Tenisi | Independent | 118 | 0.2 | |||
| ʻEliesa Fifita | Independent | 98 | 0.2 | |||
| Vavaʻu | ʻEtuate Lavulavu | Independent | 2,116 | 14.6 | Elected | |
| Samiu Vaipulu | Independent | 1,896 | 13.1 | Elected | ||
| Viliami Latu | Independent | 1,845 | 12.7 | |||
| Salesi Paea | Independent | 1,471 | 10.1 | |||
| Masao Paasi | Independent | 1,213 | 8.4 | |||
| ʻOpeti Pulotu | Independent | 917 | 6.3 | |||
| Viliami Kaufusi Helu | Independent | 726 | 5.0 | |||
| Tevita Moengangongo Saia | Independent | 700 | 4.8 | |||
| Sione Kilipati Lea | Independent | 674 | 4.6 | |||
| Peauafi Tatafu | Independent | 547 | 3.8 | |||
| Polutele Tuʻihalamaka | Independent | 544 | 3.7 | |||
| Viliula Mafi | Independent | 442 | 3.0 | |||
| Moleni Taufa | Independent | 383 | 2.6 | |||
| Viliami Pasikala | Independent | 191 | 1.3 | |||
| Keuli Pasina Lavaki | Independent | 185 | 1.3 | |||
| Paula K Kava | Independent | 175 | 1.2 | |||
| ʻOfa Kitokelau Fakalata | Independent | 113 | 0.8 | |||
| Mataiasi Moteini Moala | Independent | 104 | 0.7 | |||
| Tongovua Tae Appleton | Independent | 78 | 0.5 | |||
| Temaleti Levaitai Fulivai Fakaʻosi | Independent | 73 | 0.5 | |||
| Kapeliele Fungalei Cocker | Independent | 72 | 0.5 | |||
| Toʻofohe Loketi Teaupa | Independent | 51 | 0.4 | |||
| Source: Psephos | ||||||
Nobles' representatives
Nine nobles were elected by the 29 eligible members of the nobility on 23 April. All 29 voters cast votes. There were no nominations, and no candidates. Tuʻihaʻangana, outgoing Speaker of the House, lost his seat in Haʻapai.[18]
| Constituency | Candidate | Votes | % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eua | Hon. Lasike | 7 | 63.6 | Elected |
| Hon. Fohe | 3 | 27.3 | ||
| Baron Vaea of Houma | 1 | 9.1 | ||
| Haʻapai | Hon. Tuʻihaʻateiho | 3 | 21.4 | Elected |
| Hon. Tuʻipelehake | 3 | 21.4 | Elected | |
| Hon. Fakafanua | 2 | 14.3 | ||
| Hon. Malupo | 2 | 14.3 | ||
| Hon. Niukapu | 2 | 14.3 | ||
| Hon. Tuʻihaʻangana | 2 | 14.3 | ||
| Niuafoʻou and Niuatoptapu | Hon. Tangipa | 2 | 66.7 | Elected |
| Hon. Fotofili | 1 | 33.3 | ||
| Tongatapu | Hon. Fielakepa | 10 | 30.3 | Elected |
| Hon. Maʻafu | 10 | 30.3 | Elected | |
| Hon. Fohe | 6 | 18.2 | Elected | |
| Hon. Vahaʻi | 4 | 12.1 | ||
| Baron Vaea of Houma | 3 | 9.1 | ||
| Vavaʻu | Hon. Luani | 3 | 20.0 | Elected |
| Hon. Tuʻilakepa | 3 | 20.0 | Elected | |
| Hon. Fakatulolo | 2 | 13.3 | ||
| Hon. Fulivai | 2 | 13.3 | ||
| Hon. Tuita | 2 | 13.3 | ||
| Hon. Tuʻiʻafitu | 2 | 13.3 | ||
| Prince ʻUlukalala | 1 | 6.7 |