2016 Vavaʻu 16 by-election explained

A by-election was held in the Vavaʻu 16 constituency in Tonga on 14 July 2016. It followed the conviction and unseating of MP ‘Etuate Lavulavu for bribery and campaign overspending, in January.^{[1] [2]}

There were four candidates: ‘Akosita Lavulavu (wife of the unseated MP), Viliami Latu (who held the seat as an independent from 2010 to 2014), ‘Atalasa Pouvalu, and ‘Ipeni Siale.^[3] The election was won by ‘Etuate Lavulavu's wife ‘Akosita Lavulavu, who thereby became the only female member in Parliament.^{[4] [5]}

Result

The results were as follows:

2014 result

The result in Vavaʻu 16 in the 2014 general election had been as follows:

Notes and References

1. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/295560/by-election-date-set-for-vacant-tongan-seats "By-election date set for vacant Tongan seats"
2. http://www.tonga-broadcasting.net/?p=405 "By-election for Vavaʻu 16 set for July 14th"
3. http://matangitonga.to/2016/06/21/four-candidates-vava-u-16-election "Four candidates for Vava’u 16 By-Election"
4. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/308745/sole-woman-mp-elected-in-tonga "Sole woman MP elected in Tonga"
5. http://matangitonga.to/2016/07/15/akosita-wins-vavau-16-election-becomes-only-woman-parliamen "'Akosita wins Vava'u 16 By-election, becomes only woman in parliament"