Misplaced Pages

Politics of Tonga
Constitution
Monarchy King Tupou VI Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala Succession Privy Council
Executive Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni Deputy Prime Minister Vacant Cabinet
Legislative Legislative Assembly Speaker: Lord Fakafanua Members
Judiciary Court of Appeal Supreme Court
Elections Recent elections (constituencies) General: 2014 2017 2021 next Political parties Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (DPFI) People's Democratic Party (PDP)
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Fekitamoeloa ʻUtoikamanu Diplomatic missions of / in Tonga Nationality law Passport Visa requirements Visa policy
Other countries
v t e

Parts of this article (those related to the democratic reforms implemented in 2010) need to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (March 2012)

The politics of Tonga take place in a framework of a constitutional monarchy, whereby the King is the Head of State and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Tonga's Prime Minister is currently appointed by the King from among the members of Parliament after having won the support of a majority of its members. Executive power is vested in the Cabinet of Ministers. Legislative power is vested in the King in Parliament, and judicial power is vested in the supreme court.

Tonga joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970, and the United Nations in 1999. While exposed to colonial forces, Tonga has never lost indigenous governance, a fact that makes Tonga unique in the Pacific and boosts confidence in the monarchical system. The British High Commission in Tonga closed in March 2006.

Tonga's current king, Tupou VI, traces his line directly back through six generations of monarchs. The previous king, George Tupou V, born in 1946, continued to have ultimate control of the government until July 2008. At that point, concerns over financial irregularities and calls for democracy led to his relinquishing most of his day-to-day powers over the government.

Executive

Its executive includes the prime minister and the cabinet, which becomes the Privy Council when presided over by the monarch. In intervals between legislative sessions, the Privy Council makes ordinances, which become law if confirmed by the legislature. The monarch is hereditary and appoints all members of the cabinet, including the prime minister and the deputy prime minister.

Legislature

The Legislative Assembly is composed of representatives from both the Nobles and the people. This composition is established by Article 59 of the Constitution as amended by the " Constitution of Tonga amendment Act 2010 " Article 51 of the same Act allows the PM to nominate and the King to appoint up to 4 extra cabinet members from outside the Assembly.

The current composition is:

• 9 Nobles
• 17 Elected by Commoners

Political parties and elections

The electoral system was changed in April 2010, with 17 of 26 representatives now directly elected.

By-elections

Below is a list of recent or upcoming by-elections:

Courts

Tonga's court system consists of the Court of Appeal (Privy Council), the Supreme Court, the Magistrates' Court, and the Land Court. Judges are appointed by the monarch.

The judiciary is headed by a Chief Justice. The current Chief Justice is Michael Hargreaves Whitten.

Administrative divisions

Tonga is divided in three island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u. The only form of local government is through town and district officials who have been popularly elected since 1965. The town official represents the central government in the villages, the district official has authority over a group of villages.

See also

• Electoral calendar
• Electoral system
• Lists of political parties
• 2006 Tonga riots

References

1. "Tonga's king to cede key powers", BBC, July 29, 2008
2. "Act of Constitution of Tonga (Amendment) (No.2) Act 2010" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-08-30. Retrieved 2012-06-19.
3. "Tonga's pro-democracy movement hails assembly reform". Radio New Zealand International. 2010-04-21. Retrieved 2010-04-22.

External links

• Adam Carr's Election Archive
• Dobell, Graeme (April 29, 2007). "Tension in Tonga over state of emergency". ABC Correspondents Report.

v t e Elections in Tonga
General elections	1875 1880 1885 1890 1895 1900 1905 1910 1915 1918 1921 1924 1927 1930 1933 1936 1939 1942 1945 1948 1951 1954 1957 1960 1963 1966 1969 1972 1975 1978 1981 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2010 2014 2017 2021 Next
Local elections	1965 2010 2013 2016 2019 2023

v t e Political parties in Tonga
Democratic Labor Party Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement People's Democratic Party People's National Party Sustainable Nation-Building Party Tonga People's Party
Portal:Politics List of political parties Politics of Tonga

v t e Tonga articles
History	Timeline Early empire Kingdom of Tonga (1900–1970) Muʻa Tuʻi Tonga Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua Tuʻi Kanokupolu 2006 Nukuʻalofa riots Cyclone Gita COVID-19 pandemic 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai eruption and tsunami
Geography	Earthquakes Islands and towns Volcanoes Wildlife Natural disasters Subdivisions Tongatapu Vavaʻu Haʻapai Niuas ʻEua
Politics	Cabinet Constitution Elections Foreign relations Military commander Monarchs Crown Prince Parliament building Political parties Prime Minister Deputy Prime Minister Privy Council (judiciary)
Economy	Agriculture Paʻanga (currency) Telecommunications Transport Tourism
Society	Anthem Coat of arms Demographics Education Flag Health Language Nobility Culture Dance Kava Literature Music Narrative Religion Sports
Outline Category

• Politics of Tonga
• Political parties in Tonga