| Election Name: | 2008 Tongan general election |
| Country: | Tonga |
| Previous Election: | 2005 |
| Next Election: | 2010 |
| Election Date: | 23 – 24 April 2008 |
| Seats For Election: | 9 of 30 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Tonga |
| Party1: | Human Rights and Democracy Movement |
| Leader1: | ʻUliti Uata |
| Percentage1: | 28.47 |
| Seats1: | 4 |
| Last Election1: | 7 |
| Party2: | People's Democratic Party (Tonga) |
| Leader2: | Sione Teisina Fuko |
| Percentage2: | 14.02 |
| Seats2: | 2 |
| Last Election2: | New |
| Leader3: | – |
| Party3: | Independents |
| Percentage3: | 57.51 |
| Seats3: | 3 |
| Last Election3: | 2 |
| Prime Minister | |
| Before Election: | Feleti Sevele |
| Before Party: | Human Rights and Democracy Movement |
| After Election: | Feleti Sevele |
| After Party: | Human Rights and Democracy Movement |
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]
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]
| Constituency | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eua | Sunia Fili | 861 | 35.4 | Elected | |||
| Tevita Lavemaau | 510 | 21.0 | |||||
| Tevita Tupou | 446 | 18.3 | |||||
| Siosaia Hausia | 279 | 11.5 | |||||
| Tu'ipulotu Lauaki | 137 | 5.6 | |||||
| 'Asipeli Mafi | 130 | 5.3 | |||||
| Veisinia Tupou Tu'itakau Kaho | 56 | 2.3 | |||||
| Hakeai Vea Havea | 12 | 0.5 | |||||
| Ha'apai | ʻUliti Uata | 2,555 | 29.7 | Elected | |||
| Sione Teisina Fuko | 1,404 | 16.3 | Elected | ||||
| Moʻale Finau | 1,256 | 14.6 | |||||
| ʻOsai Latu | 1,062 | 12.3 | |||||
| Siosaia K Ma'ake Paluto | 885 | 10.3 | |||||
| Sione Tu'itupou Fotu | 412 | 4.8 | |||||
| Lopeti Kamipeli Tofa | 409 | 4.8 | |||||
| Siaosi Vaikona | 318 | 3.7 | |||||
| Sosaia Finau | 309 | 3.6 | |||||
| Niuafo'ou and Niuatoptapu | Sione Feingatau ʻIloa | 476 | 36.6 | Elected | |||
| Sione Haukinima | 367 | 28.2 | |||||
| Lepolo Taunisila | 241 | 18.5 | |||||
| 'Ofa Simiki | 217 | 16.7 | |||||
| Tongatapu | ʻAkilisi Pōhiva | 11,290 | 22.4 | Elected | |||
| ʻIsileli Pulu | 7,048 | 14.0 | Elected | ||||
| Clive Edwards | 6,697 | 13.3 | Elected | ||||
| Sione Sangster Saulala | 5,461 | 10.8 | |||||
| 'Inoke Fotu Hu'akau | 2,802 | 5.6 | |||||
| Sione Fonua | 2,768 | 5.5 | |||||
| Semisi Palu 'Ifoni Tapueluelu | 2,727 | 5.4 | |||||
| Mele Teusivi 'Amanaki | 1,523 | 3.0 | |||||
| Semisi 'Ofa Fukofuka | 1,150 | 2.3 | |||||
| Mateitalo Folaumoetao Mahu'inga | 1,136 | 2.3 | |||||
| 'Alisi Pone Fotu | 1,082 | 2.1 | |||||
| Sitiveni Takaetali Finau | 922 | 1.8 | |||||
| Mateaki Ki he Lotu Heimuli | 828 | 1.6 | |||||
| Latanoa Pikula | 765 | 1.5 | |||||
| Sateki Finau | 675 | 1.3 | |||||
| Filimone Fifita | 649 | 1.3 | |||||
| Sulunga Lavaka | 544 | 1.1 | |||||
| 'Akanete Ta'ai Lauti | 454 | 0.9 | |||||
| Sione Tu'i'onetoa | 354 | 0.7 | |||||
| Salesi Kauvaka | 269 | 0.5 | |||||
| Tupou Malohi | 259 | 0.5 | |||||
| 'Alani Fisher Taione | 184 | 0.4 | |||||
| Semisi Nauto Tuapasi 'Ata'ata | 175 | 0.3 | |||||
| Malu Faletau | 145 | 0.3 | |||||
| 'Eliu Hafoka | 141 | 0.3 | |||||
| Punalei Nuku | 124 | 0.2 | |||||
| Hoatatau Tenisi | 118 | 0.2 | |||||
| 'Eliesa Fifita | 98 | 0.2 | |||||
| Vava'u | ʻEtuate Lavulavu | 2,116 | 14.6 | Elected | |||
| Samiu Vaipulu | 1,896 | 13.1 | Elected | ||||
| Viliami Latu | 1,845 | 12.7 | |||||
| Salesi Paea | 1,471 | 10.1 | |||||
| Masao Paasi | 1,213 | 8.4 | |||||
| 'Opeti Pulotu | 917 | 6.3 | |||||
| Viliami Kaufusi Helu | 726 | 5.0 | |||||
| Tevita Moengangongo Saia | 700 | 4.8 | |||||
| Sione Kilipati Lea | 674 | 4.6 | |||||
| Peauafi Tatafu | 547 | 3.8 | |||||
| Polutele Tu'ihalamaka | 544 | 3.7 | |||||
| Viliula Mafi | 442 | 3.0 | |||||
| Moleni Taufa | 383 | 2.6 | |||||
| Viliami Pasikala | 191 | 1.3 | |||||
| Keuli Pasina Lavaki | 185 | 1.3 | |||||
| Paula K Kava | 175 | 1.2 | |||||
| 'Ofa Kitokelau Fakalata | 113 | 0.8 | |||||
| Mataiasi Moteini Moala | 104 | 0.7 | |||||
| Tongovua Tae Appleton | 78 | 0.5 | |||||
| Temaleti Levaitai Fulivai Faka'osi | 73 | 0.5 | |||||
| Kapeliele Fungalei Cocker | 72 | 0.5 | |||||
| To'ofohe Loketi Teaupa | 51 | 0.4 | |||||
| Source: Psephos | |||||||
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 |