Legislative Assembly 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. 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:

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.

Officers

Clerk (Kalake Pule Fale Alea ʻo Tonga)

• Sione Tekiteki (2011–2012)
• Gloria Poleʻo (2012–present)

References

References

1. "History". Parliament of Tonga.
2. (19 December 2025). "King Tupou VI appoints new Prime Minister in private audience". Matangi Tonga.
3. David Stanley. (1999). "Tonga-Samoa Handbook". David Stanley.
4. Ian Campbell. (2005). "The Quest for Constitutional Reform in Tonga". Journal of Pacific History.
5. Campbell (2005), p. 93.
6. Sione Latukefu. "History of our Constitution". Government of Tonga.
7. (2010-04-15). "Tonga Parliament enacts political reforms". Radio New Zealand International.
8. (2010-04-20). "Tonga parliament votes on amended boundaries". Radio New Zealand International.
9. (13 February 2018). "Tonga parliament building flattened by Cyclone Gita". [[BBC News]].
10. (14 November 2021). "Tonga's new multi-million Parliament Building to be built on seafront". Matangi Tonga.
11. (15 January 2025). "How Parliament works?".
12. "FAQs".
13. [http://parliament.gov.to/constitution1.htm Constitution of Tonga] {{webarchive. link. (2008-11-19 , s. 61)
14. "List of Speakers of the Tongan Legislative Assembly".
15. ""Late Lord Fusitu'a achieved four levels of God's goodness" – Dr. Tevita Havea says".
16. "Tonga: ELECTIONS IN 2005". Inter-Parliamentary Union.
17. "IPU PARLINE database: TONGA (Fale Alea), ELECTIONS IN 2010".
18. (19 December 2017). "Tongan Parliament elects Pōhiva as PM for next four years | Asia Pacific Report".
19. (15 December 2025). "Nobles secure top seats in Government and Legislative Assembly". Matangi Tonga.