Legislative Assembly of Tonga

The Legislative Assembly of Tonga () is the unicameral legislature of Tonga.

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.Campbell (2005), p. 93. 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.Constitution of Tonga , s. 61

A complete list of the Speakers is below:

NameTook officeLeft officeNotes 1875 1896 Hon. Siaosi Tukuʻaho 1897 1897 Hon. Siaosi Tuʻipelehake 1897 1912 Hon. Finau ʻUlukalala 1912 1938 1939 1940 1st term 1941 1941 1st term 1942 1944 Hon. Iosaiasi Veikune 1945 1945 2nd term Hon. Tuʻivakanō 1946 1948 2nd term Hon. Iosaiasi Veikune 1949 1949 3rd term Hon. Tuʻivakanō 1950 1950 3rd term Hon. Kalaniuvalu 1951 1958 1959 1984 1985 1986 Hon. Malupo 1987 1989 Lord Fusituʻa 1990 1998 Lord Veikune April 1999 2001 1st termLord Tuʻivakanō 1 July 2002 2004 1st termLord Veikune 22 March 2005 January 2006 2nd term Lord Tuʻihaʻangana 10 February 2006 April 2008 Hon. Tuʻilakepa 2 May 2008 2010 Lord Tupou (interim) 3 December 2010 21 December 2010 Hon. Lasike 21 December 2010 18 July 2012 Lord Fakafānua 19 July 2012 29 December 2014 1st termLord Tuʻivakanō January 2015 December 2017 2nd termLord Fakafānua December 2017 15 December 2025 2nd termLord Vaea 15 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 inGovernment2010 Parliament2010 electionIndependent2014 Parliament2014 electionNo overall majority2017 Parliament2017 electionPTOA2021 Parliament2021 electionIndependent

Officers Clerk (Kalake Pule Fale Alea ʻo Tonga) Sione Tekiteki (2011–2012) Gloria Poleʻo (2012–present)

Legislative Assembly of Tonga

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