General elections were held in Tonga on 18 November 2021 to elect 17 of the 26 seats in the Legislative Assembly.^[1]

Quick Facts 17 of the 26 seats in the Legislative Assembly, Turnout ...

2021 Tongan general election

← 2017 18 November 2021 Next →
17 of the 26 seats in the Legislative Assembly
Turnout	61.92%
First party Second party   Leader Semisi Sika Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa Party DPFI TPPI Seats before 14 New Seats won 3 1 Seat change 11 1
Prime Minister before election Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa TPPI Elected Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni Independent

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Following the elections, four MPs were unseated for bribery.^[2]

The 2017 general election resulted in a landslide victory for the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (Tongan: Paati Temokalati ʻa e ʻOtu Motu ʻAngaʻofa, or PTOA),^[3] and ʻAkilisi Pōhiva was re-elected as Prime Minister, defeating former Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni 14 votes to 12.^[4] In September 2019 Pohiva died,^[5] and Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa was elected as Prime Minister with the support of the nobles, independent MPs, and 5 former members of the DPFI.^[6][7] His cabinet included three nobles, who had previously been excluded under Pohiva.^[8]

In December 2020 Democratic party leader Semisi Sika submitted a motion of no-confidence in Prime Minister Tuʻiʻonetoa.^[9] The motion was backed by Deputy Prime Minister Sione Vuna Fa'otusia,^[10] who subsequently resigned from Cabinet.^[9][11] The Legislative Assembly rejected the no-confidence motion 13-9 on 12 January 2021.^[12]

Following ʻAkilisi Pōhiva's death the PTOA fragmented, with rivalries emerging between Siaosi Pohiva and his brother-in-law Mateni Tapueluelu.^[13] In the leadup to the election this led to a formal split, with Pohiva leaving the party's board and "core team".^[14]

In the leadup to the election Infrastructure and Tourism Minister ʻAkosita Lavulavu and her husband ʻEtuate Lavulavu, who had previously served as a Minister, were both convicted of obtaining money by false pretenses^[15][16] and sentenced to six years in prison by the Supreme Court.^[17][18]

The Legislative Assembly of Tonga has up to 30 members, of whom 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.^[19] Nine seats are held by members of the nobility, who elect representatives amongst themselves.^[20] 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.^[20] Around 60,000 voters were eligible to vote.^[21]

Parliament was dissolved on 16 September.^[22] 75 candidates, including 12 women, registered to contest the election.^[23][24] One candidate, Sione Fonua, later withdrew, while a second one died, leaving 73 candidates in total.^[25] Despite a week-long lockdown due to a COVID-19 case, the election was not delayed.^[26]

Prime Minister Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa did not promote his Tonga People's Party during the campaign, and several Ministers ran as independents.^[27]

Voters elected an all-male parliament, with nine new people's representatives.^[28] The leaders of both Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (PTOA), Semisi Sika and Siaosi Pōhiva, lost their seats, as did other senior PTOA MP's.^[29] While the PTOA won majorities in most constituencies, vote-splitting between the rival factions saw them lose seats to independent candidates.^[30] Only three PTOA candidates were elected: Semisi Fakahau, Veivosa Taka and Saia Piukala.^[31] The People's Party formally retained only one seat,^[32] but may name its members after the elections.^[33]

The Electoral Commission reported that voter turnout was 62%.^[34]

Following the election Viliami Tangi was appointed interim Speaker.^[35] Three candidates initially announced their candidacy for Prime Minister: Interim Prime Minister Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa, former Finance Minister ʻAisake Eke, and former Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni.^[36][37] Tuʻiʻonetoa later withdrew his candidacy, leaving Sovaleni as the frontrunner.^[38]

The Legislative Assembly met on 15 December to elect a Prime Minister, with both Sovaleni and Eke being nominated.^[39] Sovaleni was elected with 16 votes.^[40][41] Fatafehi Fakafanua was re-elected as Speaker.^[42] Sovaleni was formally appointed Prime Minister on 27 December,^[43] and announced his cabinet on 29 December.^[44][45] parliament was formally opened on 11 January 2022.^[46]

Following the election Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa was found guilty of bribery in an election petition and stripped of his seat.^[47][48] Sangster Saulala was found guilty of two counts of bribery on 2 May 2022 and his election declared void.^[49][50] Tatafu Moeaki was found guilty of bribery on 6 May,^[51] and Poasi Tei on 13 May.^[52] Election petitions against Tevita Puloka and 'Uhilamoelangi Fasi were unsuccessful.^[2] On 26 May 2022 the convictions were stayed pending appeal.^[53] On 9 August 2022 the appeals by Saulala, Tei and Moeaki were dismissed, and their elections were confirmed as void.^[54] Tu’i’onetoa's appeal was upheld and he remains in parliament.^[55][56] Saulala, Tei and Moeaki were formally unseated by Parliament and their seats declared vacant on 10 August,^[57] sparking the 2022 Tongatapu by-elections.^[58]