Tonga sets general election date for 20 November

Tongans are expected to go to the polls on 20 November to elect their 17 people’s representatives in parliament. Supervisor of elections Pita Vuki has confirmed to RNZ Pacific the Office of the Electoral Commission is waiting for the writ of election from King Tupou VI. Vuki said they expect to receive the writ from the Palace Office on Thursday, 11 September.

Nomination of candidates is scheduled for 8 and 9 October. Tonga’s last election was held on 18 November 2021. Tongans will elect 17 representatives, while the country’s nobles will elect nine of their own to form the 26-member Legislative Assembly. Tonga’s nobles or chiefs will also elect their nine representatives on election day.

Vuki said they are currently running a program aimed at ensuring that all eligible Tongans are able to vote. This includes people with disabilities. Unfortunately, Tongans who registered to vote but are overseas will not be able to cast their votes, as there is no ballot voting system yet for overseas-based Tongans. “They can vote only if they are in the country,” Vuki said.

Around 5500 Tongans are currently working under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme in Australia and the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme in New Zealand. Vuki said workers who have registered to vote and are back in Tonga by polling day will be able to cast their votes.

Meanwhile, a former Cabinet Minister and a son of a late Prime Minister have confirmed they will be standing in the general election. Former Infrastructure and Tourism Minister Semisi Sika announced on his Facebook page that he will stand in the Tongatapu 2 constituency, a seat he held from 2010 to 2022, when he lost to current MP Uhilamoelangi Fasi.

Sika, who served as tourism and infrastructure minister, said he has been urged by his family and supporters to stand in the election again. Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva Junior, son of the late prime minister and namesake Akilisi Pohiva, has confirmed he will also contest the election.

Campaigning has started in earnest around the island kingdom. Both current Prime Minister Dr ‘Aisake Valu Eke and the man he replaced in the top job after a vote of no confidence this year, Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, have indicated they will seek re-election.