King Tupou VI has issued the Writs of Election, proclaiming Tonga will go to the polls on November 16 after he dissolved Parliament last month.
His Majesty made the sudden dissolution decision after he received an advice from Speaker Lord Tuʻivakanō.
The snap general election comes one year ahead of the November 2018 schedule.
As Kaniva News reported, the sudden timing of the election has hit some of the Tongan citizens living overseas who had plans to run for Parliament in 2018.
The upcoming election was a general election and the new elected representatives will become Members of Parliament for the next four years after the election.
The Electoral Commission has called for the nomination of candidates, who must register over two-days from 27-28 September at the Office of the Electoral Commission in Nukuʻalofa, the Governor’s Offices in Haʻapai and Vavaʻu, and at the Offices of Government Representatives in ʻEua, Niuafoʻou and Niuatoputapu.
