Legislative Assembly of Tonga


The Legislative Assembly of Tonga is the unicameral legislature of Tonga.
WWW Official Site

History

A Legislative Assembly providing for representation of nobles and commoners was established in 1862 by King George Tupou I. This body met every four years and was continued in the 1875 Constitution.
Originally the Legislative Assembly consisted of all holders of noble titles, an equal number of people's representatives, the governors for Haʻapai and Vavaʻu, and at least four Cabinet Ministers chosen by the monarch. An increase in the number of nobles from twenty to thirty saw the Assembly grow to 70 members. Amendments in 1914 saw a reduction in the size of the Assembly and annual sittings. The principle of equal representation of nobles and commoners was retained.
In April 2010 the Legislative Assembly enacted a package of political reforms, increasing the number of people's representatives from nine to seventeen, with ten seats for Tongatapu, three for Vavaʻu, two for Haʻapai and one each for Niuas and ʻEua.
The 100-year-old Tongan Parliament House was destroyed by Cyclone Gita, a Category 4 tropical cyclone that passed through the nation on 12 and 13 February 2018. Parliament subsequently moved to the Tongan National Centre complex in Tofoa. In November 2021 the Tongan government announced that a new parliament building would be constructed on Nukuʻalofa's waterfront.

Electoral system

The assembly has 26 members, in which 17 members are elected by the people for 5-year term in single-seat constituencies via the single non-transferable vote system. The other 9 members are elected by the 33 hereditary nobles of Tonga.

Speaker of the Assembly

The Legislative Assembly is presided over by a Speaker, who is elected by majority of the elected members of Parliament at the first meeting after the general election and constitutionally appointed by the king. Prior to 2010, the Speaker was appointed by the monarch.
A complete list of the Speakers is below:
NameTook officeLeft officeNotes
18751896
Hon. Siaosi Tukuʻaho18971897
Hon. Siaosi Tuʻipelehake18971912
Hon. Finau ʻUlukalala19121938
193919401st term
194119411st term
19421944
Hon. Iosaiasi Veikune194519452nd term
Hon. Tuʻivakanō194619482nd term
Hon. Iosaiasi Veikune194919493rd term
Hon. Tuʻivakanō195019503rd term
Hon. Kalaniuvalu19511958
19591984
19851986
Hon. Malupo19871989
Lord Fusituʻa19901998
Lord VeikuneApril 199920011st term
Lord Tuʻivakanō1 July 200220041st term
Lord Veikune22 March 2005January 20062nd term
Lord Tuʻihaʻangana10 February 2006April 2008
Hon. Tuʻilakepa2 May 20082010
Lord Tupou 3 December 201021 December 2010
Hon. Lasike21 December 201018 July 2012
Lord Fakafānua19 July 201229 December 20141st term
Lord TuʻivakanōJanuary 2015December 20172nd term
Lord FakafānuaDecember 201715 December 20252nd term
Lord Vaea15 December 2025

Terms of the Tongan Legislative Assembly

Until 2010, the government was appointed by the monarch without reference to Parliament, and there were no political parties. The last term under the old system was the 2008 Tongan Legislative Assembly. Political reform in 2010 saw the Prime Minister elected by Parliament from among its members, leading to responsible government.
TermElected inGovernment
2010 Parliament2010 electionIndependent
2014 Parliament2014 electionNo overall majority
2017 Parliament2017 electionPTOA
2021 Parliament2021 electionIndependent

Officers

Clerk
  • Sione Tekiteki
  • Gloria Poleʻo