2010 Tongan Legislative Assembly Explained

The 2010 Tongan Legislative Assembly was established following the 2010 elections, the first under a new system which saw the majority of seats elected by universal suffrage.^[1] The Taimi Media Network described it as "Tonga's first democratically elected Parliament".^[2]

The Speaker of the 2010 Assembly was Lord Lasike,^[3] until he lost his seat in Parliament on 18 July 2012, following conviction for illicit ammunitions ownership. He was replaced as Speaker by Lord Fakafanua.^[4] The Deputy Speaker was initially Lord Tuʻiʻafitu,^[3] until he was appointed Minister for Health on 2 July 2012, whereupon he was replaced by Lord Tu'iha'teiho.^[5]

Initial party standings

|-! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:left;vertical-align:top;" width=420|Parties! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" |Votes! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" |%! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" |Seats|-| style="text-align:left;" |Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands| style="text-align:right;" |10,953| style="text-align:right;" |28.49| style="text-align:right;" |12|-| style="text-align:left;" |Independents| style="text-align:right;" |25,873| style="text-align:right;" |67.30| style="text-align:right;" |5 |-| style="text-align:left;" |People's Democratic Party| style="text-align:right;" |934| style="text-align:right;" |2.43| style="text-align:right;" |0|-| style="text-align:left;" |Sustainable Nation-Building Party| style="text-align:right;" |519| style="text-align:right;" |1.35| style="text-align:right;" |0|-| style="text-align:left;" |Tongan Democratic Labor Party| style="text-align:right;" |168| style="text-align:right;" |0.44| style="text-align:right;" |0|-| style="text-align:left;" |Noble representatives| style="text-align:right;" |54| style="text-align:right;" |—| style="text-align:right;" |9|-|style="text-align:left;background-color:#E9E9E9"|Total |width="75" style="text-align:right;background-color:#E9E9E9"| 38,447|width="30" style="text-align:right;background-color:#E9E9E9"| 100.00|width="30" style="text-align:right;background-color:#E9E9E9"| 26|-|colspan=4|Source: ^[6] |}

Members

Initial MPs

Name	width=20%	Party	width=30%	Electorate	width=20%	Term
width=1% bgcolor=		ʻAkilisi Pohiva	DPFI	Tongatapu 1	Ninth
bgcolor=		Semisi Kioa Lafu Sika	DPFI	Tongatapu 2	First
bgcolor=		Sitiveni Halapua	DPFI	Tongatapu 3	First
bgcolor=		'Isileli Pulu	DPFI	Tongatapu 4	Fourth
bgcolor=		'Aisake Valu Eke	Independent	Tongatapu 5	First
bgcolor=		Siosifa Tu'itupou Tu'utafaiva	DPFI	Tongatapu 6	First
bgcolor=		Sione Sangster Saulala	DPFI	Tongatapu 7	First
bgcolor=		P. Sione Havea Taione	DPFI	Tongatapu 8	First
bgcolor=		Kaveinga Fa'anunu	DPFI	Tongatapu 9	First
bgcolor=		Semisi Palu 'Ifoni Tapueluelu	DPFI	Tongatapu 10	First
bgcolor=		Sunia Fili	Independent	ʻEua 11	Fifth
bgcolor=		Mo'ale Finau	DPFI	Haʻapai 12	First
bgcolor=		'Uliti Uata	DPFI	Haʻapai 13	Eighth
bgcolor=		Lisiate 'Akolo	Independent	Vavaʻu 14	Third
bgcolor=		Samiu Vaipulu	Independent	Vavaʻu 15	Seventh
bgcolor=		Viliami Uasike Latu	Independent	Vavaʻu 16	First
bgcolor=		Sosefo Fe'aomoeata Vakata	DPFI	Ongo Niua 17	First
bgcolor=		Hon. Tuʻivakanō	Independent	Tongatapu Noble 1	Sixth
bgcolor=		Hon. Maʻafu	Independent	Tongatapu Noble 2	Second
bgcolor=		Hon. Vaea	Independent	Tongatapu Noble 3	First
bgcolor=		Hon. Tuʻilakepa	Independent	Vavaʻu Noble 2	Fourth
bgcolor=		Hon. Tu'i'afitu	Independent	Vavaʻu Noble 1	First
bgcolor=		Hon. Lasike	Independent	ʻEua Noble	Third
bgcolor=		Hon. Fusitu'a	Independent	Niuas Noble	First?
bgcolor=		Hon. Tu'iha'teiho	Independent	Haʻapai Noble 1	Third
bgcolor=		Hon. Fakafanua	Independent	Haʻapai Noble 2	Second

Summary of changes

• On 8 December 2010, Sosefo Vakata, People's Representative for Ongo Niua 17, left the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands, to sit as an independent.^[7]
• On 24 July 2011, Kaveinga Faʻanunu, People's Representative for Tongatapu 9, a first term MP from the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands, died of cancer.^{[8] [9]} A by-election for Tongatapu 9 was held on 15 September 2011, and the seat was retained by the Democratic Party, through its candidate Falisi Tupou.^{[10] [11]}
• On 18 July 2012, Lord Lasike, Nobles' Representative for ʻEua and Speaker of the Assembly, lost his seat by order of the King in application of the Constitution, following his conviction in court for illegal possession of firearms munitions.^{[12] [13]} He was replaced by Lord Nuku in a by-election on 2 August.^[14]
• Lord Fusituaʻa, Nobles' Representative for the Niuas, died on 24 April 2014. His son Mataʻiʻulua ʻi Fonuamotu inherited his title on 6 May. The new Lord Fusituaʻa won his father's seat in Parliament through a by-election on 22 May.^[15]

Notes and References

1. News: Agence France-Presse. Tonga set for landmark vote. 24 November 2010. The Sydney Morning Herald. 2010-11-24.
2. http://www.taimionline.com/articles/4154 "Absence of PM from opening of Parliament questioned"
3. Web site: Tonga parliament chooses Lasike as speaker . Radio New Zealand International . 21 December 2010 . 2010-12-21.
4. Web site: Tonga names new Speaker after Lord Lasike barred from Parliament . Radio New Zealand International . 2012-07-19 . 2012-07-19.
5. http://www.pmo.gov.to/news-today/press-releases/3876-former-deputy-speaker-appointed-as-minister-for-health "Former Deputy Speaker appointed as Minister for Health"
6. Web site: Kingdom of Tonga Election for Fale Alea (Tongan Legislative Assembly) 2010 . IFES election guide . 14 December 2022.
7. http://www.pmo.gov.to/appointments/new-ministers-/2010-hon-sosefo-feao-vakata-moteys-minister "Hon. Fe'ao Vakata, Youth, Sports & Training Minister"
8. Web site: Tongatapu MP dies . Matangi Tonga . 25 July 2011 . 2011-07-28 .
9. Web site: Tongatapu 9 MP died . Parliament of Tonga . 25 July 2011 . 2011-07-28 . 5 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305155457/http://parliament.gov.to/the-news/305-tongatapu-9-mp-passed-away.html . dead .
10. http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonganews/parliament/20110915_tonga_byelection.shtml "Falisi Tupou new Tongatapu 9 PR"
11. http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201109/3318755.htm "Democratic Party wins Tongan by-election"
12. http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=69636 "Tonga Speaker barred from Parliament following conviction"
13. http://matangitonga.to/2012/07/18/lasike-loses-his-job-parliament "Lasike loses his job in parliament"
14. Web site: Lord Nuku chosen by Tonga’s nobility to replace convicted Lord Lasike . Radio New Zealand International . 2012-08-02 . 2012-08-02.
15. http://matangitonga.to/2014/05/22/lord-fusitua-takes-fathers-seat "Lord Fusitu'a takes father's seat"