2012 ʻEua Noble by-election

A by-election was held for the ʻEua Noble seat to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga on 2 August 2012. It was triggered by the dismissal from Parliament of the incumbent, the Speaker Lord Lasike, following his conviction for illegal possession of ammunition in July.[1]

2012 ʻEua Noble by-election
2 August 2012
Candidate Lord Nuku Lord Vahaʻi
Popular vote 8 2
Percentage 66.7% 16.7%

The Tongan nobility elect nine representatives to Parliament. Technically, ʻEua is not a distinct constituency. Seventeen nobles jointly elect the three representatives of Tongatapu and the single representative of ʻEua, from within the same pool of nobles.[2]

Candidates and voters

Nobles do not officially stand as candidates, and none belong to any political party. Of the seventeen nobles attached to the joint Tongatapu / ʻEua constituency, three (Lord Ramsay Robertson Dalgety, Lord Tevita Poasi Tupou and Lord Feleti Sevele) are life peers, were entitled to vote but not to be elected. There were fourteen titles of hereditary nobility attached to the constituency, entitling their bearers to vote and be elected. However, Lord Lasike was barred from the election, while the Lavaka title was at that time held by King Tupou VI. In addition, three nobles (Prime Minister Lord Tuʻivakano, Lord Maʻafu, and Lord Vaea) were already members of the Assembly.[1][3]

Result

Twelve votes were cast. Lord Nuku (former Minister for Police, Prisons and Fire Services under Prime Minister Prince Lavaka Ata from 2005 to 2006, then Minister for Works under Prime Minister Feleti Sevele from 2006 to 2010) was elected with eight votes, regaining a seat he had lost in the 2010 general election. Lord Vahaʻi received two votes. Prince Ata, the King's younger son, received one vote, as did Lord Veʻehala.[1]

2012 ʻEua Noble by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Lord Nuku 8 66.67%
Independent Lord Vahaʻi 2 16.67%
Independent Prince Ata 1 8.33%
Independent Lord Veʻehala 1 8.33%
Turnout 12 75%
Majority 6 50%
Lord Nuku gain from Lord Lasike

Aftermath

In October, Lord Lasike was acquitted on appeal; the Court of Appeal ruled that the Crown prosecution had not proved that Lasike had been aware that the incriminating ammunition was in his possession.[4] Lasike immediately announced that he would challenge his dismissal from Parliament.[5]

References
  1. "Lord Nuku wins 'Eua nobles by-election", Matangi Tonga, 2 August 2012
  2. "Nobles prepare for Elections of district electoral representatives" Archived 2012-04-22 at the Wayback Machine, Tongan government portal, 17 November 2010
  3. "Lord Nuku won By Election for ‘Eua's Noble Representative", Tongan government portal, 2 August 2012
  4. "Lord Lasike acquitted by Appeal Court", Matangi Tonga, 12 October 2012
  5. "Lasike challenges removal as Tonga Speaker", Radio New Zealand International, 12 October 2012
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