Tonga elections

Former NZ Attorney General to lead Tonga election observer group

The team includes Nauru's Electoral Commissioner Joseph Cain, Fiji's Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem and a human rights lawyer from Swaziland Lomcebo Dlamini.

RNZI reports the Commonwealth Observer Group will be in Tonga from today until 20 November.

The election is being held next Thursday.

Official observers from the Pacific Islands Forum and the US Embassy in Suva will also be watching the election.

     

Tongan voters focused on grassroot issues

This week a former head of the state broadcaster expressed concerns the public was missing out on election issues because of the canning of a national talkback show and the sidelining of prominent journalists at the organisation.

But Kalafi Moala, who runs the Taimi Media Network, has been monitoring the campaign and says people are being informed in other ways.

"Many of the candidates are canvassing house to house, approaching people directly. One thing that I have noticed which is a major difference with this election compared to previous elections.

Candidate claims move to unseat ‘Akilisi Pōhiva by reducing candidate numbers is unlawful

Ana Bing Fonua, the candidate number six at the constituency says according to Section 9A of the Electoral Act, the official date for any candidate to withdraw their candidature ended on the first week of October, a week from nomination day.

She says she doubts the Election Office would allow any candidates to withdraw at this stage.

Fonua, who was CEO of the Ministry of Internal Affairs before quitting to run for Parliament, said she was unaware of the identity of the group.

Independent candidate can see party politics in Tonga

'Aisake Eke served as finance minister in successive governments before being sacked by prime minister 'Akilisi Pohiva for abstaining in a vote of no-confidence against Mr Pohiva.

Dr Eke had been named as one of a number of candidates affiliated to a new grouping, Langafonua 'a e Masiva, which includes former democratic party members 'Isi Pulu and Sunia Fili.

But he said he remains independent and will do so until political parties are officially brought in.

Tonga excited to see women step towards politics

Lepolo Taunisila said most of the 15 women candidates had good qualifications, years of experience in various fields and that their participation was a blessing for Tonga.

She said the Congress was fully supporting the women in every way it could to achieve more successful results than in the past.

Tongan leader hopeful for more women MPs

Fifteen of the 86 candidates who have put their names forward for the election on 16 November are women.

In 2014, 16 women stood for election out of 104 candidates.

There was only one woman in Tonga's last parliament - Akosita Lavulavu, who won a by-election in her Vava'u number 16 seat last year.

The head of the women's centre Fuiva Kavaliko said she thinks Tongan voters will respond positively to the women candidates.

She said the short build-up to the election may well favour women.

New Zealand poised to help Tonga with election process

On Friday, Tonga's King George Tupou the sixth has dismissed the country's scandal-ridden Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva and dissolved parliament.

The move, made after a concerted effort by the country's Nobles to push Mr Pohiva out, has left the fledgling democracy in political turmoil.

Mr Brownlee says King Tupou the sixth has made a step that is unprecedented.

"We are assessing as to whether this is an appropriately constitutional move from the King of Tonga - and at first glance, it looks like it is," he said.