1990 Tongan general election

none General elections were held in Tonga on 14 and 15 February 1990 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. Nine nobles and nine people's representatives were elected. Seven of the latter favoured democratic reform.Campbell Ian C. Elections in Asia and the Pacific: A Data Handbook. Volume II: South East Asia, East Asia, and the South Pacific Nohlen Dieter Grotz Florian Hartmann Christof Oxford University Press 2001 Tonga 820 0-19-924959-8 Voter turnout was 65.4%. Background The 1987 Tongan general election saw the election of Laki Niu and ʻAkilisi Pōhiva and an increased focus on accountability for the government, particularly in the areas of parliamentary allowances, passport sales, and financial management.https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/10125/8520/v3n2-357-378.pdf The 1990 Election in Tonga Hills Rodney C. The Contemporary Pacific 3 2 1991 357-378 23699933 9 January 2022 After a series of evasive Ministerial answers and Ministers using international travel to avoid being questioned entirely, in September 1989 all the elected People's Representatives walked out, returning only when they would have forfeited their seats.359-360 On their return, they introduced motions calling for a reduction in the number of Noble Representatives and an increase in the number of People's Representatives. The first was voted down, and the second subsequently withdrawn.360 Campaign Parliament was closed on 29 October 1989.363 During December and January conservatives led by Lord Fusituʻa attempted to enlist the church to back a "church and state" campaign and formed a de facto political party.365-366 In January 1990 King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV intervened in the election, giving an interview to Matangi Tonga in which he complained about the walkout and said that change could become uncontrollable and result in a Coup d'état.366 The Times of Tonga reported that claims that reformers were communists attempting to overthrow the government was a campaign of fear.367 Two days before the election an attempt was made to nullify the candidacies of two reformist candidates on the grounds of debt; the debts were immediately paid and they remained on the ballot.367 Results Pro-reform candidates 35116 7 +2 Anti-reform candidates 26127 2 –2 Nobles' representatives 9 0 26227 1154 0 41880 Nohlen et al. People's seats ConstituencyElectedPartyVotesTongatapu (3 representatives) ʻAkilisi Pōhiva Independent9,441 Laki Niu Independent9,402 Viliami Fukofuka Independent7,259ʻEua (1 representative) Moeakiola Takai Independent939Haʻapai (2 representatives) Sione Teisina Fuko Independent2,657 Viliami Pousima Afeaki Independent2,249Vavaʻu (2 representatives) 'Atunaisa Katoa Independent2,100 Siale Faletau Independent1,793 Niuas (1 representative) Siaki Tu'ipulotu Kata Independent425Source: Hills370 References Tonga Category:1990 in Tonga Category:Elections in Tonga Category:May 1990 in Oceania