2002 Tongan general election

Politics of Tonga
Constitution
Monarchy
Executive
Legislative
Judiciary
Elections
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations

General elections were held in Tonga on March 7, 2002, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga.[1] Supporters of the Human Rights and Democracy Movement (HDRM) won seven of the nine seats for people's representatives. Voter turnout was 48.9%.[2]

Following the election, HRDM leader 'Akilisi Pohiva was arrested and charged with sedition over allegations of royal corruption published during the run-up to the election.[3] He was later acquitted by a jury.[4]

  1. ^ James, Kerry (2002). "The Recent Elections in Tonga: Democratic Supporters Win but Does Democracy Follow?". Journal of Pacific History. 37 (3): 313–322. doi:10.1080/0022334022000047858.
  2. ^ James, p. 314.
  3. ^ Michael Field (2002-05-13). "Tonga's king centre piece in sedition court case against politicians and journalists". Archived from the original on October 14, 2008. Retrieved 2010-01-10.
  4. ^ "MPs acquitted on sedition charges". The Age. 2003-05-20. Retrieved 2008-07-15.