Nine nobles were elected by only 33 nobles under the Tongan constitution while nine Democratic Party and eight independents were elected  by 40,727 as Tonga’s election results were officially announced last night.
Two independent MPs who became ministers in the former government of Lord TuʻivakanŠwere returned into Parliament by their constituents.
MP SÅsefo FeÊ»aomoeata VakatÄ, Former Minister for Sports and Youth and was the candidate for the Niua 17 was re-elected while Former Deputy Prime Minister SÄmiu Kiuta Vaipulu from VavaÊ»u 15 retained his seat.
The Democratic Party won only nine seats compared to 11 seats it won in 2010 which it was eventually increased into 12 after the independent MP ‘Aisake Eke declared he would join the Party.
The Party needs to get four independents so that they can have the power to run a democratic government for 2015 – 2018.
Incumbent MP VakatÄ and MP Vaipulu’s re-election into Parliament means the nobility now has 11 elected candidates as Tonga braces for the election of who will become Tonga’s next Prime Minister. The nobles need the support of three more candidates from the independents so they can form the government.
The former Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakanÅ has been re-elected by the 33 members of the nobility.
A government that can be possibly formed by nine members of the nobility included two re-elected independent candidates is as follows:
- Lord Vaea
- Lord Ma’afu
- Lord Tu’ivakano
- Lord Tu’i’afitu
- Lord Tu’ilakepa
- Lord Tu’iha’angana
- Lord Tu’iha’aateiho
- Lord Nuku
- Lord Fusitu’a
- MP SÅsefo Fe’aomoeata VakatÄ (independent candidate)
- MP Samiu Kiuta Vaipulu (independent candidate)
A government that can be possibly formed by nine Democratic Party elected candidates is as follows:
- Tongatapu 1, Leader Samuela Akilisi Pohiva
- Tongatapu 2, Semisi Sika
- Tongatapau 4, Mateni Tapueluelu
- Tongatapau 5, ‘Aisake Eke
- Tongatapau 8, Semisi Fakahau
- Tongatapau 9, Penisimani Fifita
- Tongatapau 10, Pohiva Tu’ionetoa
- ‘Eua 11, Tevita Lavemaau
- Ha’apai 13 Veivosa Taka
The independents elected candidates will decide which party they will join to form Tonga’s next elected government are:
- Siaosi ‘Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni, Tongatapu 3
- Sione Vuna Fa’otusia, Tongatapu 7
- Poasi Tei, Tongatapu 6
- Viliami Hingano Manuopangai, Ha’apai 12
- Saia Maʻu Piukala, Vava’u 14
- Samiu Kiuta Vaipulu, Vava’u 15
- ‘Etuate Sungalu Lavulavu, Vava’u 16
- SÅsefo FeÊ»aomoeata VakatÄ, Niua
In 2010 the nine noble candidates elected into Parliament needed the support of four elected candidates from the independents so they can form the government. The Democrats only needed the support of one more candidates from among the independent MPs to form the government.
However PÅhiva maintained that his party should only stick to the party members as enticing the independents to join the Party in return for rewards means those independents would put the rewards first before the people who voted for the Party.
As a result, the nobles, who automatically hold nine parliamentary seats under the Tongan constitution, stole the show and offered five independent MPs ministerial posts including the post of deputy prime minister. This gave them the numbers they needed to form the government.
The big question now for the Democrats is: Is the Party ready to take another race to Premiership that requires Leader Ê»Akilisi PÅhiva to give a good deal for the independent elected candidates so that they can rise to power or not?
If PÅhiva and his Party would not bow their heads to the independents a minority elected government by nobles will definitely lead Tonga in the next four parliamentary years.
Election results:
Tongatapu 1
Elizabeth Baker – 191
William Cocker – 448
Soloni Helu – 8
Mosese Manuofetoa – 345
‘Emeline Tuita – 75
‘Akilisi Pohiva 1482
‘Ana Bing Fonua – 132
Eliesa Fifita – 75
Tongatapu 2
Semisi Sika 1091
Soane Patitia Fifita 186
Tevita Kaitu’u Fotu 436
Sione Fonua 543
Tongatapu 3
William Clive Edwards – 518
Gabiella ‘Ilolahia 110
Siaosi Sovaleni 999
Simote Vea 459
Paula Lavulo 15
Tevita Palu 711
Mele ‘Amanaki 151
Tongatapu 4
Poli Tuaileva 94
Etuate Sakalia 168
Felise Ulupano 37
Edgar Cocker 492
Tominika Setefano Kama 4
Tevita Ita Koloamatangi 54
Mateni Tapueluelu 783
Seketi Fuko – 248
Isileli Pulu 570
Tongatapu 5
Lia Manatu Fa’oa 72
‘Aisake Valu Eke 1682
Viliami Mangisi 44
Maliu Takai 1090
Tongatapu 6
Sione Tafuna 325
Siosifa Tuutafaiva 629
Salesi Fotu 912
Poasi Tei 1036
Tongatapu 7
‘Amanaki Paea Molitika – 33
Sione Sangster Saulala 762
Pinomi Prescott 41
‘Atalasa Pouvalu 99
Sione Vuna Fa’otusia 822
Filini Sikuea – 31
Mavaetangi Manavahetau 199
Sipola Halafihi 686
Tongatapu 8
Semisi Fakahau – 1016
Mafile’o Mataela – 32
Tevita Tu’i Uata – 895
Sione Havea Taione 663
Sipaisi Kutu 12
Tongatapu 9
Samipeni Finau – 199
Vika Fusimalohi – 603
Tevita Tupu ‘Ofa – 505
Lemasingo Tania Nai – 88
Penisimani Fifita – 679
Falisi Tupou – 550
Tongatapu 10
Seini Teu – 45
Daniel Fale – 452
Semisi Tapueluelu – 285
Pohiva Tui’onetoa – 1402
Faka’osilea Kaufusi – 845
‘Eua 11
Sunia Manu Fili – 716
Tevita Lavemaau – 760
Silivia Mahe – 7
Suliasi ‘Aholelei – 57
Taniela Fusimalohi – 618
Ha’apai 12
Viliami Manuopangai Hingano – 535
Mo’ale Finau – 532
Pita Taufatofua – 396
Pita Vi – 158
Tu’ivaita Ueleni – 69
Latiume Kaufusi – 18
Ha’apai 13
‘Anau ‘Anau – 139
Samiuela Fangaloka – 443
Veivosa Taka – 823
Siosiua Langitoto Helu – 156
Sione Talanoa Fifita – 103
Vava’u 14
Tongavua Appleton – 34
Taniela Kivalu – 17
Matini Veikune – 79
Saia Ma’u Piukala – 1232
Lisiate ‘Akolo – 739
Tu’amelie Kemoe’atu – 70
Latuniua Lepolo – 272
Vava’u 15
‘Alekisio Kaita’eifo – 77
Alwyn Moa – 36
Viliami kaufusi Helu – 20
Henele Fononga – 9
Tomifa Paea – 524
Sione Mailangi – 95
Samiu K Vaipulu – 747
Elieta Sapate Toke – 31
Anisi Bloomfield – 472
Kerry Lavaki – 166
Viliami Pasikala – 16
Salesi Kauvaka – 27
Vava’u 16
Tupoumalohi Manuofetoa – 80
Ikani Loneli Taliai 82
Ipeni Siale – 299
Viliami Lolohea – 85
Viliami Uasike Latu – 574
‘Aisea Silivenusi – 101
‘Etuate Lavulavu – 615
Niua 17
Fe’ao Vakata – 519
VÄtau Hui – 291
Sione Peauafi Haukinima – 138
