Politics of Tonga

The politics of Tonga take place in a framework of a constitutional monarchy, whereby the King is the Head of State and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Tonga's Prime Minister is currently appointed by the King from among the members of Parliament after having won the support of a majority of its members. Executive power is vested in the Cabinet of Ministers. Legislative power is vested in the King in Parliament, and judicial power is vested in the supreme court.

Tonga joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970, and the United Nations in 1999. While exposed to colonial forces, Tonga has never lost indigenous governance, a fact that makes Tonga unique in the Pacific and boosts confidence in the monarchical system. The British High Commission in Tonga closed in March 2006.

Tonga's current king, Tupou VI, traces his line directly back through six generations of monarchs. The previous king, George Tupou V, born in 1946, continued to have ultimate control of the government until July 2008. At that point, concerns over financial irregularities and calls for democracy led to his relinquishing most of his day-to-day powers over the government.^[1]

Executive

Main office-holders
Office	Name	Party	Since
King	Tupou VI		18 March 2012
Prime Minister	Siaosi Sovaleni	Independent	27 December 2021

Its executive includes the prime minister and the cabinet, which becomes the Privy Council when presided over by the monarch. In intervals between legislative sessions, the Privy Council makes ordinances, which become law if confirmed by the legislature. The monarch is hereditary and appoints all members of the cabinet, including the prime minister and the deputy prime minister.

Legislature

The Legislative Assembly is composed of representatives of the Nobles and representatives of the people. This composition is established by Article 59 of the Constitution as amended by the " Constitution of Tonga amendment Act 2010 "^[2] Article 51 of the same Act allows the PM to nominate and the King to appoint up to 4 extra cabinet members from outside the Assembly.

The current composition is:

9 Nobles
17 Elected by Commoners

Political parties and elections

The electoral system was changed in April 2010, with 17 of 26 representatives now directly elected.^[3]

By-elections

Below is a list of recent or upcoming by-elections:

Election	Date	Reason	Winner
2005 Tongatapu by-election	5 May 2005	Feleti Sevele's elevation to Cabinet	Clive Edwards
2011 Tongatapu 9 by-election	15 September 2011	Death of Kaveinga Fa’anunu	Falisi Tupou (DPFI)
2016 Vavaʻu 16 by-election	14 July 2016	‘Etuate Lavulavu's election voided (bribery and campaign overspending)	'Akosita Lavulavu
2019 Tongatapu 1 by-election	28 November 2019	Death of ʻAkilisi Pōhiva	Siaosi Pohiva (DPFI)
2022 Ha’apai 12 by-election	1 September 2022	Death of Viliami Hingano	Moʻale Finau
2022 Tongatapu by-elections	3 November 2022	Unseating of Tatafu Moeaki, Poasi Tei, and Sione Sangster Saulala	Mateni Tapueluelu (Tongatapu 4), Dulcie Tei (Tongatapu 6), Paula Piukala (Tongatapu 7)
2023 Tongatapu 8 by-election	19 January 2023	Death of Semisi Fakahau	Johnny Taione
2023 Tongatapu 10 by-election	13 July 2023	Death of Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa	Kapelieli Militoni Lanumata
2024 Vavaʻu 14 by-election	28 March 2024	Resignation of Saia Piukala	Mo’ale ‘Otunuku

Courts

Tonga's court system consists of the Court of Appeal (Privy Council), the Supreme Court, the Magistrates' Court, and the Land Court. Judges are appointed by the monarch.

The judiciary is headed by a Chief Justice. The current Chief Justice is Michael Hargreaves Whitten.

Administrative divisions

Tonga is divided in three island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u. The only form of local government is through town and district officials who have been popularly elected since 1965. The town official represents the central government in the villages, the district official has authority over a group of villages.

References

^ "Tonga's king to cede key powers", BBC, July 29, 2008
^ "Act of Constitution of Tonga (Amendment) (No.2) Act 2010" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-08-30. Retrieved 2012-06-19.
^ "Tonga's pro-democracy movement hails assembly reform". Radio New Zealand International. 2010-04-21. Retrieved 2010-04-22.

External links

Adam Carr's Election Archive
Dobell, Graeme (April 29, 2007). "Tension in Tonga over state of emergency". ABC Correspondents Report.

[1] "Tonga's king to cede key powers", BBC, July 29, 2008

[2] "Act of Constitution of Tonga (Amendment) (No.2) Act 2010" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-08-30. Retrieved 2012-06-19.

[3] "Tonga's pro-democracy movement hails assembly reform". Radio New Zealand International. 2010-04-21. Retrieved 2010-04-22.

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e Elections in Tonga
General elections	1875 1880 1885 1890 1895 1900 1905 1910 1915 1918 1921 1924 1927 1930 1933 1936 1939 1942 1945 1948 1951 1954 1957 1960 1963 1966 1969 1972 1975 1978 1981 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2010 2014 2017 2021 Next
Local elections	1965 2010 2013 2016 2019 2023

v t e Elections in Oceania
Sovereign states	Australia Federated States of Micronesia Fiji Kiribati Marshall Islands Nauru New Zealand Palau Papua New Guinea Samoa Solomon Islands Tonga Tuvalu Vanuatu
Associated states of New Zealand	Cook Islands Niue
Dependencies and other territories	American Samoa Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Easter Island French Polynesia Guam Hawaii New Caledonia Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Pitcairn Islands Tokelau Wallis and Futuna