Tonga’s early general election has affected some of the Tongan citizens living overseas who had planned to run for Parliament in 2018.
Kaniva News reports the election date had been changed and Tongan voters will now go to the polls in two months’ time.
Tonga’s elections laws required all potential candidates who wanted to register to be in Tonga on a certain period of time before the election began.
This is what the law says: “Provided that a person resident outside of Tonga who is qualified to be an elector will qualify as a candidate only if he is present in Tonga for a period of 3 months before the election.”
Auckland-based business man Va’a Talia’uli said he was planning to stand for Tongatapu 3 electorate in the 2018 general election.
He said he cannot fulfil his dream because the election date had been changed which means he could not be qualified.
He said he has other commitments for his businesses and family.
Taliaʻuli, who owned the Velata Restaurant and Catering centre in South Auckland, said the unexpected election meant he did not have enough time to prepare.
King Tupou VI has stunned the Tongan political world by calling for an early general election to be held before November 16, seeking new Members of Parliament to run the country.
Acting Attorney General Aminiasi Kefu said 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.
When asked if his Office could consider the situation and do something to allow the potential candidates who were not in Tonga before the election to be able to register Kefu said that was impossible.
He said the Legislative Assembly was the only body that can change the law but it has been dissolved.
Photo supplied. Caption: Va'a Taliaʻuli, who owns the Velata Restaurant and Catering centre in South Auckland.