2017 Tongan general election
# 2017 Tongan general election

General elections were held in Tonga on 16 November 2017 to elect 17 of the 26 seats to the Legislative Assembly. King Tupou VI dissolved the Assembly on 25 August 2017 on the advice of its Speaker, Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō, who claimed that Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pohiva was attempting to claim powers held by the King and Privy Council within Cabinet.

Nominations closed on 27 September, with 86 candidates contesting the 17 people's seats. The election resulted in a victory for the DPFI, with ʻAkilisi Pōhiva remaining as Prime Minister.

## Electoral system

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 one each. 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.

## Results

The Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands won 14 seats, enough to allow them to form a government without needing the support of nobles or independents.

| | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | | | 14 | +5 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Independents | | | 3 | –5 |
| Nobles' representatives | Nobles' representatives | | | 9 | 0 |
| Total | Total | | | 26 | – |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 39,545 | 99.83 | | |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 67 | 0.17 | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | 39,612 | 100.00 | | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 59,003 | 67.14 | | |
| Source: TEC, IFES ||||||

### People's Seats

| Constituency | Elected | Party | Votes |
| - | - | - | - |
| Tongatapu 1 | ʻAkilisi Pōhiva | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | 1,379 |
| Tongatapu 2 | Semisi Sika | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | 1,111 |
| Tongatapu 3 | Siaosi Sovaleni | Independent | 1,421 |
| Tongatapu 4 | Mateni Tapueluelu | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | 1,469 |
| Tongatapu 5 | Losaline Ma‘asi | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | 1,034 |
| Tongatapu 6 | Poasi Tei | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | 1,425 |
| Tongatapu 7 | Sione Vuna Fa‘otusia | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | 1,273 |
| Tongatapu 8 | Semisi Fakahau | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | 1,182 |
| Tongatapu 9 | Penisimani Fifita | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | 1,302 |
| Tongatapu 10 | Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | 1,631 |
| ʻEua 11 | Tevita Lavemaau | Independent | 789 |
| Haʻapai 12 | Moʻale Finau | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | 635 |
| Haʻapai 13 | Veivosa Taka | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | 905 |
| Vavaʻu 14 | Saia Piukala | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | 1,366 |
| Vavaʻu 15 | Samiu Vaipulu | Independent | 684 |
| Vavaʻu 16 | 'Akosita Lavulavu | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | 935 |
| Ongo Niua 17 | Vatau Hui | Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands | 438 |

### By constituency

Tongatapu 1 :

| Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - |
| Samuela ʻAkilisi Pohiva | 1,379 | |
| Netatua Pelesikoti Taufatofua | 352 | |
| Sione Tukia | 279 | |
| Ofo-Mei-Vaha Tupou Niumeitolu | 196 | |
| Mosese Teukiveiuto Manuofetoa | 128 | |
| Siotame Drew Havea | 109 | |
| Siale ‘Ataongo Puloka | 80 | |
| ‘Ana Kanume Bing Fonua | 79 | |
| Sione Keuate Tupouniua | 62 | |
| Barry Smith Taukolo | 49 | |
| ‘Eliesa Fifita | 14 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 7 | – |
| Total | 2,734 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | | |
| Source: Tonga Elections |||

Tongatapu 2 :

| Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - |
| Semisi Sika | 1,111 | |
| Sione Tu‘itavake Fonua | 465 | |
| Soane Patita Vakautafefine Fifita | 277 | |
| ‘Ema Rererangi Fonua Stephenson | 260 | |
| Fisi‘ipeau Faiva | 20 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 3 | – |
| Total | 2,136 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | | |
| Source: Tonga Elections |||

Tongatapu 3 :

| Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - |
| Siaosi Sovaleni | 1,421 | |
| Tevita Palu | 932 | |
| Katalina Tohi | 607 | |
| Mele Teusivi ‘Amanaki | 159 | |
| Sitiveni Halapua | 83 | |
| Tonga Soane | 3 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 5 | – |
| Total | 3,210 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | | |
| Source: Tonga Elections |||

Tongatapu 4 :

| Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - |
| Mateni Tapueluelu | 1,469 | |
| Seketi Fo‘ou Fuko | 388 | |
| ʻIsileli Pulu | 216 | |
| Tevita Mateitalo Makameimoana Motulalo | 138 | |
| Poli Tuaileva | 136 | |
| Litia Simpson | 69 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 6 | – |
| Total | 2,422 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | | |
| Source: Tonga Elections |||

Tongatapu 5 :

| Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - |
| Losaline Ma'asi | 1,034 | |
| ʻAisake Valu Eke | 953 | |
| ‘Ana Hau‘alofa‘ia Koloto | 527 | |
| Fe‘ofa‘aki Taufonua Latu | 311 | |
| Viliami Kini Mangisi | 96 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 6 | – |
| Total | 2,927 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | | |
| Source: Tonga Elections |||

Tongatapu 6 :

| Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - |
| Poasi Tei | 1,425 | |
| Soane Taiofonongahina ‘Ahio | 672 | |
| Siosifa Tuʻitupou Tuʻutafaiva | 425 | |
| Sione Tatafu Angakehe Tafuna | 325 | |
| Fisi‘itotoa ‘Ahohiva Kaufusi | 75 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 5 | – |
| Total | 2,927 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | | |
| Source: Tonga Elections |||

Tongatapu 7 :

| Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - |
| Sione Vuna Fa'otusia | 1,273 | |
| Sione Sangster Saulala | 726 | |
| Mavaetangi Manavahetau | 217 | |
| Sione Hufanga | 191 | |
| 'Olikoni Tanaki | 133 | |
| Talanoa Fuka Kitekei'aho | 63 | |
| Tevita Silatolu | 9 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 4 | – |
| Total | 2,616 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | | |
| Source: Tonga Elections |||

Tongatapu 8 :

| Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - |
| Semisi Fakahau | 1,182 | |
| Viliami Sisifa | 596 | |
| Penisimani Teisina | 484 | |
| Mosa'ati Vaipulu | 187 | |
| Viliami Kilisimasi Taufa | 71 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 6 | – |
| Total | 2,526 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | | |
| Source: Tonga Elections |||

Tongatapu 9 :

| Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - |
| Penisimani Fifita | 1,302 | |
| Siamelie Latu | 537 | |
| Vika Vaka Fusimalohi | 488 | |
| Timote Tu'iono Oliveti Laume | 290 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 1 | – |
| Total | 2,618 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | | |
| Source: Tonga Elections |||

Tongatapu 10 :

| Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - |
| Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa | 1,631 | |
| Soane Kautai | 593 | |
| Loupua Kuli | 406 | |
| Daniel Kimball Fale | 174 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 4 | – |
| Total | 2,808 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | | |
| Source: Tonga Elections |||

'Eua 11 :

| Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - |
| Tevita Lavemaau | 789 | |
| Taniela Fusimalohi | 519 | |
| Sunia Manu Fili | 476 | |
| Sunia Kauvaka Havea | 310 | |
| Hale Telepo | 6 | |
| Silivia Loumaile Mahe | 6 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 2 | – |
| Total | 2,108 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | | |
| Source: Tonga Elections |||

Ha'apai 12 :

| Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - |
| Moʻale Finau | 635 | |
| Viliami Hingano | 588 | |
| Finau Pulotu Uata | 371 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 4 | – |
| Total | 1,598 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | | |
| Source: Tonga Elections |||

Ha'apai 13 :

| Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - |
| Veivosa Taka | 905 | |
| 'Esafe Hema Latu | 589 | |
| 'Elikisoni Langi | 97 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 3 | – |
| Total | 1,594 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | | |
| Source: Tonga Elections |||

Vava'u 14 :

| Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - |
| Saia Piukala | 1,366 | |
| Latu Niua Lepolo | 495 | |
| Matini Fatanitavake Ma'afu-'o-Veikune T. Veikune | 368 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 2 | – |
| Total | 2,231 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | | |
| Source: Tonga Elections |||

Vava‘u 15 :

| Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - |
| Samiu Kuita Vaipulu | 684 | |
| Tomifa Fainga‘a Paea | 608 | |
| Kulufeinga ‘Anisi Bloomfield | 494 | |
| Keuli Pasina Lavaki | 184 | |
| Sinali Fe‘iloaki Hansen | 83 | |
| Tongovua Fifita | 63 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 5 | – |
| Total | 2,121 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | | |
| Source: Tonga Elections |||

Vava‘u 16 :

| Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - |
| ʻAkosita Lavulavu | 935 | |
| Viliami Uasike Latu | 748 | |
| ‘Atalasa Misilemoti Pouvalu | 296 | |
| Viliami Lolohea | 174 | |
| ‘Aisea Silivenusi | 22 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 5 | – |
| Total | 2,180 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | | |
| Source: Tonga Elections |||

Ongo Niua 17 :

| Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - |
| Vatau Hui | 438 | |
| Sosefo Fe‘aomoeata Vakata | 419 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 0 | – |
| Total | 857 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | | |
| Source: Tonga Elections |||

### Nobles

| Constituency | Elected candidate | Votes |
| - | - | - |
| ‘Eua | Lord Nuku | 10 |
| Ha‘apai | Lord Tu‘iha‘angana | 5 |
| Ha‘apai | Fatafehi Fakafanua | 3 |
| Niuatoputapu and Niuafo'ou | Mataʻiʻulua ‘i Fonuamotu | 3 |
| Tongatapu | Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō | 12 |
| Tongatapu | Maʻafu Tukuiʻaulahi | 11 |
| Tongatapu | Lord Vaha‘i | 7 |
| Vava‘u | Malakai Fakatoufifita | 6 |
| Vava‘u | Tonga Tuʻiʻafitu | 5 |
| Source: Radio New Zealand |||
