The Interim Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, Rt. Hon. Lord Tangi, issued invitations today to all Elected Representatives to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, calling for submission of nomination of an Elected Representative to the Legislative Assembly as a Candidate for Prime Minister Designate. The invitation was issued following the return of the writ of election from the Electoral Commission to His Majesty The King on Thursday 30 November 2017.
Nomination(s) for Prime Minister Designate can now be submitted to the Office of the Interim Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. The acceptance of nominations will close at 4.30pm, on Thursday 14th December 2017. The Interim Speaker has outlined in his letter of invitation to the Elected Representatives to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga the process provided in the Act of the Constitution of Tonga for the proper submission of nomination(s). A nomination must be submitted by an Elected Representative to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, to be duly seconded by two other Elected Representatives to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. An Elected Representative to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga who has submitted or seconded a nomination cannot do the same in respect of a nomination of another Candidate. A nomination’s compliance with legal requirements is of utmost importance as a nomination can be void due to non-compliance.
The Interim Speaker will open and read out nomination(s) on the day of the meeting of all Elected Representatives to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga to elect the Prime Minister Designate. The date of that meeting will be announced following the close of the period for receiving nominations.
The Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly will be elected by the Elected Representatives to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga at the same meeting, following the election of the Prime Minister Designate. The nomination of a Nobles’ Representative for the position of Speaker or Deputy Speaker will be made on the day of the said meeting, just before the election to those respective posts take place.
AUTHORISED AND RELEASED BY THE CHIEF CLERK OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF TONGA