2017 Tongan general election

2017 Tongan general election
← 2014 16 November 2017 2021 →
17 of 26 seats in the Legislative Assembly
  First party
 
Leader ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
Party DPFI
Leader's seat Tongatapu 1
Seats before 9
Seats won 14
Seat change Increase 5
Popular vote 17,610
Percentage 44.53%
Prime Minister before election

ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
DPFI

Elected Prime Minister

ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
DPFI

General elections were held in Tonga on 16 November 2017[1] to elect 17 of the 26 seats to the Legislative Assembly.[2] King Tupou VI dissolved the Assembly on 25 August 2017 on the advice of its Speaker, Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō, who claimed that Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pohiva was attempting to claim powers held by the King and Privy Council within Cabinet.[3]

Nominations closed on 27 September, with 86 candidates contesting the 17 people's seats.[4] The election resulted in a victory for the DPFI, with ʻAkilisi Pōhiva remaining as Prime Minister.[5]

  1. ^ "Tonga's general election set for November 16". 6 September 2017.
  2. ^ "Tongan King dissolves parliament, calls fresh elections". Radio New Zealand. 26 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  3. ^ "Tonga speaker claims govt's thirst for power drove him to King". Radio New Zealand. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  4. ^ "86 candidates contesting 17 seats". Matangi Tonga. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Tongan Parliament elects Pōhiva as PM for next four years". Asia Pacific Report. Retrieved 3 January 2018.