Election results

Convicted Tongan MPs given stay by appeals

The quartet includes three cabinet ministers, the Deputy Prime Minister Poasi Tei, Finance Minister Tatafu Moeaki, and Sangster Saulala, along with the former Prime Minister Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa.

They lost their seats when accusations of bribery of voters ahead of last year's election were proven.

RNZ Pacific's Tongan correspondent said, now, with all the ministers able to stay, the Tongan Parliament, which has been deferred twice in the past two weeks, is likely to sit next week.

Kalafi Moala said getting the Budget passed is the critical thing for the government.

Twelve new MPs in Tonga election - but no women elected

The Prime Minister Pohiva Tu'ionetoa retained his Tongatapu 10 constituency, as one of only five current Cabinet ministers returned.

Preliminary results were announced just before 11pm Thursday.

Matangi Tonga reports it resulted in several minutes of tooting car horns and fireworks on the seafront, but ended at midnight when the Covid curfew kicked in.

Major losses for the PATOA Party included Siaosi Pohiva, Semisi Sika, Mateni Tapueluelu, Moale Finau and Losaline Ma'asi. Siasosi and Mateni are the son and son-in-law of the late 'Akilisi Pohiva.