2021 Tongan general election

The 2017 general elections results in a landslide victory for the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (Tongan: Paati Temokalati ʻa e ʻOtu Motu ʻAngaʻofa, or PTOA),[2] and ʻAkilisi Pōhiva was re-elected as Prime Minister, defeating former Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni 14 votes to 12.[3] In September 2019 Pohiva died,[4] and Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa was elected as Prime Minister with the support of the nobles, independent MPs, and 5 former members of the DPFI.[5][6] His cabinet included three nobles, who had previously been excluded under Pohiva.[7]

In December 2020 Democratic party leader Semisi Sika submitted a motion of no-confidence in Prime Minister Tuʻiʻonetoa.[8] The motion was backed by Deputy Prime Minister Sione Vuna Fa'otusia,[9] who subsequently resigned from Cabinet.[8][10] The Legislative Assembly rejected the no-confidence motion 13-9 on 12 January 2021.[11]

Following ʻAkilisi Pōhiva's death the PTOA fragmented, with rivalries emerging between Siaosi Pohiva and his brother-in-law Mateni Tapueluelu.[12] In the leadup to the election this led to a formal split, with Pohiva leaving the party's board and "core team".[13]

In the leadup to the election Infrastructure and Tourism Minister ʻAkosita Lavulavu and her husband ʻEtuate Lavulavu, who had previously served as a Minister, were both convicted of obtaining money by false pretenses[14][15] and sentenced to six years in prison by the Supreme Court.[16][17]

The Legislative Assembly of Tonga has up to 30 members, of which 17 are directly elected by first-past-the-post voting from single-member constituencies. The island of Tongatapu has ten constituencies, Vavaʻu three, Haʻapai two and ʻEua and Niuatoputapu/Niuafoʻou one each.[18] Nine seats are held by members of the nobility who elect representatives amongst themselves.[19] The Cabinet formed by a Prime Minister may include up to four members not elected to the Assembly, who then automatically become members of the legislature.[19] Around 60,000 voters were eligible to vote.[20]

Parliament was dissolved on 16 September.[21] 75 candidates, including 12 women, registered to contest the election.[22][23] One candidate, Sione Fonua, later withdrew, while a second one died, leaving 73 candidates in total.[24] Despite a week-long lockdown due to a COVID-19 case, the election was not delayed.[25]

Prime Minister Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa did not promote his Tonga People's Party during the campaign, and several Ministers ran as independents.[26]

Voters elected an all-male parliament, with nine new people's representatives.[27] The leaders of both Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (PTOA), Semisi Sika and Siaosi Pōhiva, lost their seats, as did other senior PTOA MP's.[28] While the PTOA won majorities in most constituencies, vote-splitting between the rival factions saw them lose seats to independent candidates.[29] Only three PTOA candidates were elected: Semisi Fakahau, Veivosa Taka and Saia Piukala.[30] The People's Party formally retained only one seat,[31] but may name its members after the elections.[32]

The Electoral Commission reported that voter turnout was 62%.[33]

Following the election Viliami Tangi was appointed interim Speaker.[34] Three candidates initially announced their candidacy for Prime Minister: interim Prime Minister Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa, former Finance Minister ʻAisake Eke, and former Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni.[35][36] Tuʻiʻonetoa later withdrew his candidacy, leaving Sovaleni as the frontrunner.[37]