Английская Википедия:2008 Tongan general election
Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Use dmy dates Шаблон:Infobox legislative election Шаблон:Politics of Tonga
General elections were held in Tonga on 23 and 24 April 2008 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly.[1] The nobles were elected on 23 April, and the nine people's representatives on 24 April.[2] A total of 32,000 people turned out to vote, giving a turnout of 48%.[3]
71 candidates had filed for the people's representatives' seats, among them eight women. All nine incumbents stood for reelection, with six retaining their seats.[4] Most of the pro-democracy MPs were returned, despite several facing charges of sedition over the 2006 Nuku'alofa riots.[5] Reportedly, all nine elected MPs were pro-democracy activists.[6]
These elections were the last ones before democratic reforms expected to be implemented in 2010, which would change the seat balance as follows: 17 MPs would be popularly elected, nine MPs would be elected by the nobles and four MPs appointed by the king.[7]
Viliami Uasike Latu requested a recount in Vava'u, the constituency he contested, as he missed out on the second seat there by only 51 votes. The recount was conducted from 5 to 9 May at the Office of the Governor of Vava’u,[8] and confirmed the original result.[9]
Controversy
About two weeks before the election, it was announced that the Tonga Broadcasting Commission would henceforth censor candidates' political broadcasts,[10] and that TBC reporters would be banned from reporting on political matters, allegedly because they lacked the necessary training for objective coverage.[11] The decision was criticised by the Pacific Islands News Association, and New Zealand's Minister of Revenue, Peter Dunne, commented that it was "unfortunate".[12] Tonga Review said that the decision was a restriction on freedom of speech, and compared Tonga with Zimbabwe,[13] a comparison rejected by the TBC.[14] Tongan MP Clive Edwards said that the TBC's decision was aimed at stifling criticism of the government in the lead-up to the election,[15] and to hamper the re-election chances of pro-democracy MPs.[16] Pesi Fonua, head of the Tonga Media Council, said that the election "very much depends on how the candidates present themselves", and that censorship would "definitely have an impact".[17]
Results
By constituency
People's Representatives
| Constituency | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eua | Sunia Fili | Human Rights and Democracy Movement | 861 | 35.4 | Elected |
| Tevita Lavemaau | Independent | 510 | 21.0 | ||
| Tevita Tupou | Independent | 446 | 18.3 | ||
| Siosaia Hausia | Independent | 279 | 11.5 | ||
| Tu'ipulotu Lauaki | Independent | 137 | 5.6 | ||
| 'Asipeli Mafi | Independent | 130 | 5.3 | ||
| Veisinia Tupou Tu'itakau Kaho | Independent | 56 | 2.3 | ||
| Hakeai Vea Havea | Independent | 12 | 0.5 | ||
| Ha'apai | ʻUliti Uata | Human Rights and Democracy Movement | 2,555 | 29.7 | Elected |
| Sione Teisina Fuko | People's Democratic Party | 1,404 | 16.3 | Elected | |
| Moʻale Finau | Independent | 1,256 | 14.6 | ||
| ʻOsai Latu | Independent | 1,062 | 12.3 | ||
| Siosaia K Ma'ake Paluto | Independent | 885 | 10.3 | ||
| Sione Tu'itupou Fotu | Independent | 412 | 4.8 | ||
| Lopeti Kamipeli Tofa | Independent | 409 | 4.8 | ||
| Siaosi Vaikona | Independent | 318 | 3.7 | ||
| Sosaia Finau | Independent | 309 | 3.6 | ||
| Niuafo'ou and Niuatoptapu | Sione Feingatau ʻIloa | Independent | 476 | 36.6 | Elected |
| Sione Haukinima | Independent | 367 | 28.2 | ||
| Lepolo Taunisila | Human Rights and Democracy Movement | 241 | 18.5 | ||
| 'Ofa Simiki | Independent | 217 | 16.7 | ||
| Tongatapu | ʻAkilisi Pōhiva | Human Rights and Democracy Movement | 11,290 | 22.4 | Elected |
| ʻIsileli Pulu | Human Rights and Democracy Movement | 7,048 | 14.0 | Elected | |
| Clive Edwards | People's Democratic Party | 6,697 | 13.3 | Elected | |
| Sione Sangster Saulala | Independent | 5,461 | 10.8 | ||
| 'Inoke Fotu Hu'akau | Independent | 2,802 | 5.6 | ||
| Sione Fonua | Independent | 2,768 | 5.5 | ||
| Semisi Palu 'Ifoni Tapueluelu | People's Democratic Party | 2,727 | 5.4 | ||
| Mele Teusivi 'Amanaki | Independent | 1,523 | 3.0 | ||
| Semisi 'Ofa Fukofuka | Independent | 1,150 | 2.3 | ||
| Mateitalo Folaumoetao Mahu'inga | Independent | 1,136 | 2.3 | ||
| 'Alisi Pone Fotu | Independent | 1,082 | 2.1 | ||
| Sitiveni Takaetali Finau | Independent | 922 | 1.8 | ||
| Mateaki Ki he Lotu Heimuli | Independent | 828 | 1.6 | ||
| Latanoa Pikula | Independent | 765 | 1.5 | ||
| Sateki Finau | Independent | 675 | 1.3 | ||
| Filimone Fifita | Independent | 649 | 1.3 | ||
| Sulunga Lavaka | Independent | 544 | 1.1 | ||
| 'Akanete Ta'ai Lauti | Independent | 454 | 0.9 | ||
| Sione Tu'i'onetoa | Independent | 354 | 0.7 | ||
| Salesi Kauvaka | Independent | 269 | 0.5 | ||
| Tupou Malohi | Independent | 259 | 0.5 | ||
| 'Alani Fisher Taione | Independent | 184 | 0.4 | ||
| Semisi Nauto Tuapasi 'Ata'ata | Independent | 175 | 0.3 | ||
| Malu Faletau | Independent | 145 | 0.3 | ||
| 'Eliu Hafoka | Independent | 141 | 0.3 | ||
| Punalei Nuku | Independent | 124 | 0.2 | ||
| Hoatatau Tenisi | Independent | 118 | 0.2 | ||
| 'Eliesa Fifita | Independent | 98 | 0.2 | ||
| Vava'u | ʻEtuate Lavulavu | Independent | 2,116 | 14.6 | Elected |
| Samiu Vaipulu | Independent | 1,896 | 13.1 | Elected | |
| Viliami Latu | Independent | 1,845 | 12.7 | ||
| Salesi Paea | Independent | 1,471 | 10.1 | ||
| Masao Paasi | Independent | 1,213 | 8.4 | ||
| 'Opeti Pulotu | Independent | 917 | 6.3 | ||
| Viliami Kaufusi Helu | Independent | 726 | 5.0 | ||
| Tevita Moengangongo Saia | Independent | 700 | 4.8 | ||
| Sione Kilipati Lea | Independent | 674 | 4.6 | ||
| Peauafi Tatafu | Independent | 547 | 3.8 | ||
| Polutele Tu'ihalamaka | Independent | 544 | 3.7 | ||
| Viliula Mafi | Independent | 442 | 3.0 | ||
| Moleni Taufa | Independent | 383 | 2.6 | ||
| Viliami Pasikala | Independent | 191 | 1.3 | ||
| Keuli Pasina Lavaki | Independent | 185 | 1.3 | ||
| Paula K Kava | Independent | 175 | 1.2 | ||
| 'Ofa Kitokelau Fakalata | Independent | 113 | 0.8 | ||
| Mataiasi Moteini Moala | Independent | 104 | 0.7 | ||
| Tongovua Tae Appleton | Independent | 78 | 0.5 | ||
| Temaleti Levaitai Fulivai Faka'osi | Independent | 73 | 0.5 | ||
| Kapeliele Fungalei Cocker | Independent | 72 | 0.5 | ||
| To'ofohe Loketi Teaupa | Independent | 51 | 0.4 | ||
| Source: Psephos | |||||
Nobles' representatives
Nine nobles were elected by the 29 eligible members of the nobility on 23 April. All 29 voters cast votes. There were no nominations, and no candidates. Tu'iha'angana, outgoing Speaker of the House, lost his seat in Ha'apai.[18]
| Constituency | Candidate | Votes | % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eua | Hon. Lasike | 7 | 63.6 | Elected |
| Hon. Fohe | 3 | 27.3 | ||
| Baron Vaea of Houma | 1 | 9.1 | ||
| Ha'apai | Hon. Tu'iha'ateiho | 3 | 21.4 | Elected |
| Hon. Tu'ipelehake | 3 | 21.4 | Elected | |
| Hon. Fakafanua | 2 | 14.3 | ||
| Hon. Malupo | 2 | 14.3 | ||
| Hon. Niukapu | 2 | 14.3 | ||
| Hon. Tu'iha'angana | 2 | 14.3 | ||
| Niuafo'ou and Niuatoptapu | Hon. Tangipa | 2 | 66.7 | Elected |
| Hon. Fotofili | 1 | 33.3 | ||
| Tongatapu | Hon. Fielakepa | 10 | 30.3 | Elected |
| Hon. Ma'afu | 10 | 30.3 | Elected | |
| Hon. Fohe | 6 | 18.2 | Elected | |
| Hon. Vaha'i | 4 | 12.1 | ||
| Baron Vaea of Houma | 3 | 9.1 | ||
| Vava'u | Hon. Luani | 3 | 20.0 | Elected |
| Hon. Tu'ilakepa | 3 | 20.0 | Elected | |
| Hon. Fakatulolo | 2 | 13.3 | ||
| Hon. Fulivai | 2 | 13.3 | ||
| Hon. Tuita | 2 | 13.3 | ||
| Hon. Tu'i'afitu | 2 | 13.3 | ||
| Prince 'Ulukalala | 1 | 6.7 |
References
External links
- "Tongans confused and undecided on eve of 2008 General Election", Mary Lyn Fonue, Matangi Tonga, 23 April 2008
- "Results, 2008 Tonga Parliamentary General Election" Matangi Tonga, 25 April 2008
- "Noble Fielakepa and Noble Ma'afu elected into Parliament", Tonga Review, 23 April 2008
- ↑ Electoral Calendar- world elections,US elections,presidential election,world parties
- ↑ Tonga to hold general elections in April - People's Daily Online
- ↑ "48% turnout for 2008 General Election" Шаблон:Webarchive, Matangi Tonga, 28 April 2008
- ↑ Tonga to hold general election on 24 April - People's Daily Online
- ↑ Pro-democracy MPs mostly returned in Tonga - Radio New Zealand Шаблон:Webarchive, 25 April 2008
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ Tonga heads to polls, but more slowly toward greater democracy Шаблон:Webarchive
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ "TBC's censorship committee makes its mark on coming election" Шаблон:Webarchive, Matangi Tonga, 11 April 2008
- ↑ "Reporting restrictions in Tonga criticised by region", ABC Radio Australia, 10 April 2008
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ "Tonga and Zimbabwe have something in common - restriction on free speech" Шаблон:Webarchive, Tonga Review, 7 April 2008
- ↑ "TBC Boss Responds to Tonga Review Article" Шаблон:Webarchive, Tonga Review, 10 April 2008
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
