Candidates confirmed for Tonga election

Eighteen nobles have registered for the upcoming Tonga general election on 20 November. Registration of candidates closed in Nuku’alofa on Thursday.

One of them, Prince Kalaniuvalu Fotofili, has already retained his seat in the Tonga Legislative Assembly as he is the lone candidate registered for the Niuatoputau and Niuafo’ou islands.

Supervisor of Election Pita Vuki has confirmed the final number of noble candidates, and also confirmed that a total of 71 candidates have registered to contest the 17 Peoples’ Representatives seats in Parliament. The list includes current Prime Minister Dr Aisake Valu Eke and the man he replaced in the role, Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni.

The peoples’ representatives will be voted in by registered Tongan voters across the islands from Tongatapu to the Niuas, while the nine nobles will be elected by the kingdom’s nobles.