2017 Tongan general election

General elections were held in Tonga on 16 November 2017. Initially expected to be held in 2018, King Tupou VI called a snap election in August 2017. Parliamentary Speaker Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō, who advised the monarch to dissolve parliament and call an early election, had expressed unease with attempts by Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva and his government to remove certain powers from the monarch and the Privy Council. Despite legal and political experts disputing the legality of the dissolution, given that neither the monarch nor the speaker consulted Pōhiva on the matter, the prime minister declined to challenge the decision in court.

Prime Minister Pōhiva and his Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (PTOA) had governed since 2014. Two parties contested the election, the PTOA and the newly founded Langafonua ʻa e Masiva. Many candidates focused on local issues during the campaign, while national issues were generally viewed as less important by numerous voters. The controversial ban of a popular talkback show on the Tonga Broadcasting Commission, which had been critical of the PTOA government,^[1] resulted in many candidates utilising grassroots campaigning. The PTOA went on to win a majority of seats, securing 14 of the 17 people's seats, allowing the party to form government without the need of any of other factions. Independents won three of the people's seats, while Langafonua ʻa e Masiva failed to enter parliament. Voter turnout was 67%, a decline from 79% in the 2014 election. The Legislative Assembly re-elected Pōhiva as prime minister on 18 December, defeating former Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni. Pōhiva's cabinet was inaugurated on 18 January 2018.

During the previous election, held in 2014, the PTOA, led by ‘Akilisi Pōhiva, won nine seats, while independents secured eight.^[2] Around half of the incumbent people's representatives lost their seats, as did one noble. Despite the election seeing a record 16 female candidates contest, no women were elected.^[3] Following the election, two MPs announced their candidacies for the parliamentary vote for prime minister, Pōhiva and Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu. In the lead-up to the vote, Vaipulu emerged as the apparent favourite.^[4] Shortly before voting commenced on 29 December,^[5] a group of independents, led by Siaosi Sovaleni, switched their support to Pōhiva, who went on to defeat Vaipulu.^[4] Pōhiva became the first commoner to be elected prime minister^[5] and unveiled his cabinet the following day, Sovaleni became deputy prime minister.^[6] The outgoing prime minister, Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō, was subsequently elected as the speaker of parliament.^[7] Pōhiva retained two incumbent ministers, one of whom, Maʻafu Tukuiʻaulahi, was also the sole noble member.^[6] In 2016, ʻAkosita Lavulavu became the first woman to be elected to parliament after democratisation, after winning a by-election.^[8] She succeeded her husband, former Education Minister ʻEtuate Lavulavu, who lost his seat after he was found guilty of bribery.^[9]

Pōhiva survived a no-confidence motion in February 2017, which had been led by most of the nobles' representatives, citing "poor governance, nepotism and favouritism". Supporters of the motion highlighted Pōhiva's appointment of his son as an advisor, although he did not receive a government salary.^[10] The prime minister dismissed the opposition's allegations, stating that these matters were sufficiently addressed.^[11] The motion garnered the support of 10 MPs, which included most of the nobles and some independents, while 14 MPs voted to keep Pōhiva in office.^[10] Finance Minister ‘Aisake Eke abstained and was reportedly forced to resign from cabinet shortly after.^[12]

On 24 August 2017, acting on the advice of Speaker Tuʻivakanō, King Tupou VI suddenly dissolved parliament, bringing forward elections that were originally planned for 2018.^[13] Tuʻivakanō accused Pōhiva of seeking to remove certain powers from the monarch and privy council, including the authority to appoint the attorney-general and police commissioner. The speaker also claimed that the PTOA had attempted to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) while evading the monarch's approval.^[14] CEDAW was initially supported by the government,^[15] but became controversial in Tonga due to allegations that it would pave the way for the legalisation of same-sex marriage and that it was anti-Christian. Following protests and public outcry, the government withdrew its support for CEDAW.^[16] The dissolution occurred amidst a strained relationship between the monarch and Pōhiva.^[17] The prime minister characterised the situation as a "failed coup", stating that his opponents were unable to oust his administration completely, as it remained in government in a caretaker capacity.^[13] While several legal and political commentators believed the dissolution lacked legal legitimacy due its justifications, Pōhiva ultimately declined to bring the matter before the courts.^[18] Shortly after parliament was dissolved, Pōhiva dismissed Sovaleni as deputy prime minister, who was succeeded by Tukuiʻaulahi.^[19]

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 have one each.^[20] 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.^[21] Unless the monarch dissolves the Legislative Assembly early, members serve a four-year term.^[22]

Candidates and voters are required to be at least 21 years old and hold Tongan citizenship. Ineligible voters include those who have served a prison sentence of at least two years and individuals convicted of a criminal offence.^[20] To qualify, candidates are required to be eligible voters and present in Tonga for at least a three-month period within the six months before an election.^[23] Candidates running for a people's seat also require the signatures of at least 50 qualified electors from the constituency they contest and a deposit to be paid. Individuals subject to legal action for outstanding debt are ineligible to be contestants.^[20] Contestants for the People's Seats were also required to undergo a legal clearance to qualify. The nobles, however, were exempt from this procedure.^[24] A total of 59,003 individuals were registered to vote in this election.^[25]

A total of 86 candidates contested the people's seats, a decrease from 106 in 2014. There were 15 female candidates, one less than in the previous election.^[26] Prime Minister Pōhiva's PTOA Party fielded 17 candidates.^[27] The Langafonua ʻa e Masiva party was established on 29 September and ran eight candidates. Neither the party's chair, ‘Emeli Pouvalu, nor her deputy, Saia Moehau, contested the election.^[28]

Many candidates were reportedly more visible during the campaign period than in previous elections.^[29] A popular Tonga Broadcasting Commission (TBC) talkback show, which served as a platform to deliberate on election issues, was canned before the election. Prime Minister Pōhiva had frequently clashed with the TBC, labelling it an enemy of his government.^[1] In light of the ban, the campaign period saw an uptick of candidates engaging in more grassroots methods, including door-to-door canvassing, than in previous election cycles.^[30] As such, voters were predominantly more concerned about local issues than nationwide affairs.^[29] The PTOA primarily campaigned on regaining confidence from the electorate and continuing its accomplishments in government. Critics, such as journalist Kalafi Moala, questioned what achievements the PTOA was alluding to and highlighted the government's scandals from the previous term.^[31] The Langafonua ʻa e Masiva party platform focused on advocating for higher wages, introducing a provision for local government in the constitution and decreasing youth unemployment.^[28]

After dissolving parliament on 24 August, the monarch issued the election writ on 5 September. Candidate nominations were open from 27 to 28 September,^[32] while voter registration closed on 2 November.^[33] At the government's invitation, the Commonwealth of Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum sent delegations for the first time to observe the elections.^[34][35] The campaign period concluded on 15 November.^[36] On election day, polling for the people's seats commenced at 9:00 and concluded at 16:00.^[37] Voting for the nobles' representatives occurred from 10:00 to 12:00; the election supervisor, Pita Vuki, announced the results for these seats an hour after the nobles' polling concluded.^[38] Vuki announced the successful candidates for the people's seats shortly before 22:00.^[39] The electoral commission did not receive any complaints about the election conduct or any applications from candidates for recounts by the deadline.^[40]

The PTOA secured a majority of seats, winning 14 of the people's seats, while the other three went to independents.^[41] None of the Langafonua ʻa e Masiva candidates were successful.^[39] Only 47% of the electorate, who participated, voted for the winning candidates, while 10 of the people's representatives were elected by pluralities. Seven of the nobles' representatives were returned to parliament.^[42] Nikotimasi Fatafehi Laufilitonga Kakau Vahaʻi and incumbent MP ʻAlipate Tuʻivanuavou Vaea, were tied for the Tongatapu noble constituency's third seat, with seven votes each. Election Supervisor Vuki conducted a coin toss to break the tie,^[38] resulting in Vahaʻi securing the seat.^[43] Two women were elected, incumbent Lavulavu and a newcomer.^[39] Voter turnout reached 67%, a decrease from 79% in 2014.^[44]

One of the successful PTOA contestants described the party's victory as the public's rebuke of the early parliamentary dissolution. Moala said the PTOA's triumph was surprising, due to the early dissolution, but that it demonstrated Prime Minister Pōhiva remained the "most dominant" figure to influence Tonga's political landscape. Moala also stated that the result indicated the PTOA's scandals did not affect the party's standing at the polls.^[45] Parliament convened on 18 December to elect a prime minister. In addition to incumbent Prime Minister Pōhiva, his former deputy, Sovaleni, was also nominated. Pōhiva received 14 votes and secured another term, narrowly defeating Sovaleni, who received the votes of 12 MPs.^[46] The monarch formally appointed Pōhiva to a second term on 2 January 2018,^[47] and opened parliament on 11 January. Most of the cabinet ministers were sworn in on 18 January; however, the foreign affairs and defence portfolios were not immediately filled.^[48]

Pōhiva governed until his death in 2019. With the absence of a clear successor, the PTOA began to fragment shortly after.^[49] Finance Minister Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa, who defected from the PTOA and formed the Tonga People's Party, contested the parliamentary vote to succeed Pōhiva, facing Deputy Prime Minister Sēmisi Sika. Tu‘i‘onetoa was backed by independents, three fellow PTOA defectors and some of the nobles, and went on to defeat Sika, whom the PTOA caucus supported.^[50] As a result, the PTOA fell into opposition mid-term.^[51]