A Tonga Electoral Commission banner with the message: "Vote so you can be counted". Photo: Tonga Electoral Commission
Eighteen nobles have registered for the upcoming Tonga general election on 20 November.
Registration of candidates closed in Nuku'alofa on Thursday.
One of them, Prince Kalaniuvalu Fotofili, has already retained his seat in the Tonga Legislative Assembly as he is the lone candidate registered for the Niuatoputau and Niuafo'ou islands.
Supervisor of Election Pita Vuki has confirmed the final number of noble candidates, and also confirmed that a total of 71 candidates have registered to contest the 17 Peoples' Representatives seats in Parliament.
The list includes current Prime Minister Dr Aisake Valu Eke and the man he replaced in the role, Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni.
The peoples' representatives will be voted in by registered Tongan voters across the islands from Tongatapu to the Niuas, while the nine nobles will be elected by the kingdom's nobles.
Who are the nobles in the running?
The current nobles representatives in the Tongan Parliament are Lord Vaea, Lord Tui'vakano and Lord Fohe, who represent Tongatapu.
'Eua representative is Lord Nuku, while nobles of Ha'apai are represented by Lord Tui'ha'angana and Lord Fakafanua.
The nobles representing Vava'u are Lord Tui'afitu and Lord Tui'lakepa while Prince Kalaniuvalu Fotofili is the representative of Niuatoutapu and Niuafo'ou.
When candidates registration closed on Thursday, 9 October at the Palace Office in Nuku'alofa, six nobles were confirmed to contest the three Tongatapu seats, four each for the lone 'Eua seat and the two Vava'u seats, while three had registered for the two Ha'apai seats.
There was one lone candidate for the two Niuas (Niuatoputapu and Niuafo'ou) in Prince Fotofili, which means he retains his seat for another four-year term.
Supervisor Vuki confirmed this.
"There was only one candidate for the two Niuas which means Prince Fotofili is the nobles rep for the two islands," Vuki stated.
Nobles who have registered for the election in Tongatapu are Lord Lasike, Lord Ma'afu, Lord Nuku, Lord Tuívakano, Lord Vaea and Lord Veéhala.
Lord Fohe, who is one of the current MPs, is not standing for re-election.
Current 'Eua representative Lord Nuku is contesting his seat again, with Lord Lasike, Lord Tuívakano and Lord Veéhala as his opponents.
Current Speaker of Parliament Lord Tu'ivakano and fellow Ha'apai representative Lord Tui'ha'angana will have Lord Tui'ha'ateiho as the third candidate for the island's two nobles seats.
Both Vava'u members Lord Tui'afitu and Lord Tui'lakepa have been joined by Lord Fulivai and Lord Luani as the four contesting the two Vava'u seats.
The Tonga Electoral Commission said election of nobles will be done at the Palace Office in Nuku'alofa from 10am to 12pm on 20 November.
71 standing for People's Representatives
Vuki confirmed that all the current 17 peoples' representatives have registered to contest their seats again.
That include members of the current Cabinet and those who formed the former government of Hu'akavameiliku.
There are 10 members for Tongatapu, one for 'Eua, two for Ha'apai, three for Vava'u and one for the two Niuas (Niuatoputapu and Niuafo'ou).
Current members for Tongatapu are Tevita Fatafehi Puloka (Tongatapu 1), Dr 'Uhilamoelagi Fasi (Tongatapu 2), Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni (Tongatapu 3), Mateni Tapueluelu (Tongatapu 4), Dr 'Aisake Valu Eke (Tongatapu 5), Dulcie Elaine Tei (Tongatapu 6), Paula Piveni Piukala (Tongatapu 7), Johnny Grattan Vaea Taione (Tongatapu 8), Sevinitini Toumoua (Tongatapu 9) and Kapelieli Lanumata (Tongatapu 10).
The lone member for 'Eua is Dr Taniela Fusimalohi, while the two Ha'apai reps are Veivosa Light of Life Taka and Mo'ale Finau.
Vava'u representatives are Dr Mo'ale 'Otunuku, Samiu Vaipulu and Dr Viliame Uasike Latu, with Vatau Mefi Hui as the Niua representative.
There are around 65,000 voters who are eligible to cast their votes on polling day.
Vuki confirmed that Pohiva brothers Siaosi and Samuela Akilisi Pohiva have both confirmed their candidancy for the election, in Tongatapu 1 and Ha'apai 13.
A number of former MPs are standing again this time around including former tourism ministers Semisi Sika and 'Etuate Lavulavu, former trade minister Isileli Pulu and former finance minister Tevita Lavemaau.
There are at least six female candidates, in Gabriella Blake 'Ilolahia, Adi Mitimiti Pasikala, Fane Fotu Fituafe, Dulcie Elaine Tei, Lute Finau and Vika Fusimalohi.
Voters can cast their votes between 9am and 4pm on 20 November in polling centres around Tonga.
- TONGATAPU 1 - Tevita Fatafehi Pukola, Siaosi Vailahi Pohiva, Éliesa Fifita
- TONGATAPU 2 -Úhilamoelangi Fasi, Semisi Kioa Lafu Sika
- TONGATAPU 3: Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Ófa ki Vahafolau Sovaleni, Gabriella Renee Blake Ílolahia
- TONGATAPU 4: 'Isileli Pulu, Mateni Tapueluelu, Viliami Á. Takau, Vili Fonolahi Pese a.k.a. Sione Laulaupeaálu
- TONGATAPU 5: Adi Mitimiti Pasikala, Hekisou Fifita, Áisake Valu Eke
- TONGATAPU 6: Fane Fotu Fituafe, Tahifisi Vehikite, Dulcie Elaine Tei, Viliami Mahe Poése, Sepeti Vakameilalo, Sione Leki
- TONGATAPU 7: Siueli Éleni Mone, Kitione Nikua, Siaosi Ákapei K. Maílei, Tauáho Áhokovi, Mateitalo Folaumoetao, Lute Finau, Paula Piveni Piukala
- TONGATAPU 8 - Johnny Grattan Vaea Taione, Sipaisi Kutu, Viliami Sisifa, Raymond Lafu Sika, Poasi Fonua, Filia Hetau Uipi, Taufa Kuli Áhomeé
- TONGATAPU 9 - Puluno Ípolito Lasalo, Vika Vaka Fusimalohi, Sevenitini Toumoúa, Tevita Tukunga
- TONGATAPU 10 - Fakaósi Maama, Matani Nifofa, Kapelieli Militoni Lanumata, Tulutulu Mafuaiolotele Kalaniuvalu
- ÉUA 11 - Taniela Likuóhihifo Fusimalohi, Tevita Lavemaau, Siuaki Livai, Silivia Loumaile Mahe
- HAÁPAI 12 - Moále Finau, Sione Finau Tapu, Penisimani Tavalu Fatafehi, Saimone Kapetaua Vuki, Tavita Vaikona, Sione Foaki Fifita
- HAÁPAI 13 - Veivosa Light of Life Taka, Siua Taufa, Fotofili Mahe, Samuela Ákilisi Pohiva II, Ésafe Hema Latu
- VAVAÚ 14 - Latu Niua Lepolo, Moále Ótunuku, Tuámelie Topui
- VAVAÚ 15 - Arthur Afuhaámango, Keuli Pasina Lavaki, Samiu Kuita Vaipulu, Álani Petelo Tangitau, Tomifa Faingaá Paea
- VAVAÚ 16 - Étuate Sungalu Lavulavu, Viliami Uasike Latu
- NIUA 17 - Vatau Mefi Hui, Paula Vovole Kohinoa, Áisake Hoatatau Finau, Lataífaingataá Tangimana
