Vavaʻu 15

Vavaʻu 15
constituency
for the Legislative Assembly of Tonga
Region Vavaʻu
Current constituency
Created 2010
Number of members 1
Member(s) Samiu Vaipulu

Vavaʻu 15 is an electoral constituency for the Legislative Assembly in the Kingdom of Tonga. It was established for the November 2010 general election, when the multi-seat regional constituencies for People's Representatives were replaced by single-seat constituencies, electing one representative via the first past the post electoral system. Located in the Vavaʻu island group, it encompasses the villages of Neiafu, Fungamisi, Falaleu, Makave, Toula, and ‘Utui. It is one of three constituencies in Vavaʻu. (The number 15 does not mean that it is the fifteenth in Vavaʻu, but in the country.)[1]

Its first ever (and so far only) representative is Samiu Vaipulu, a veteran politician first elected to Parliament in 1987. Following his re-election in 2010 as an independent, he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister under Prime Minister Lord Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō.[1] [2]

Members of Parliament

ElectionMemberParty
2010 Samiu Vaipulu independent

Election results

2010

Tongan general election, 2010: Vavaʻu 15
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Samiu Vaipulu 618 33.1
(unknown) Ualingi Salesi Paea 362 19.4
(unknown) Keuli Pasina Lavaki 305 16.3
(unknown) Viliami Kaufusi Helu 235 12.6
(unknown) Semisi Lavaka 208 11.1
(unknown) Viliami Pasikala 138 7.4
Majority 256 13,7 n/a
Independent win (new seat)

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Tongan Electoral Commission
  2. "Tonga's prime minister names his cabinet", Radio New Zealand International, 31 December 2010