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Pro-democracy Candidates Win Big In Tonga Election

Friday: April 25, 2008

Tonga's pro-democracy movement says it has a mandate for change following its big win in Thursday’s election, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

(Sydney Morning Herald/Matangi Tonga)

Pro-democracy candidates won six out of nine parliamentary seats on offer in Thursday's election, just down on their current total of seven.

Pro-democracy leader Akilisi Pohiva attracted the support of 11,290 voters, more than any other candidate.

"I think the message is clear now. The outcome of the election is like a referendum because the government has been doing its very best, using all its resources, and dominating all the media outlets trying to destroy us, but the battle is over now," Pohiva says.

Pohiva said Thursday's election had handed pro-democracy MPs a mandate to press ahead with political reforms, which are expected to be in place before the next election.

http://news.smh.com.au/tonga-prodemocracy-mps-claim-mandate/20080425-28il.html

For full results visit:

http://www.matangitonga.to/article/tonga_election_results_2008_240408.shtml