Tongans dump half their MPs in general election

Tongans dumped half their members of parliament in a general election this week as the tiny Pacific island kingdom faces up to a grim economic outlook.
Official results released by the Tongan Electoral Commission today show 12 of 17 people's representatives and one of nine nobles -- members of the extended royal family -- were voted out of office in the 26-seat parliament.
"I did not think there would be so many," deputy prime minister Saimiu Vaipulu admitted to AFP.
New Zealand-based Tongan political scientist Malakai Koloamatangi had said ahead of the poll that Tonga "continues to suffer" from an ailing economy and that this would have an impact on the vote.

The Asian Development Bank said the Tongan economy is estimated to have expanded by 1.5 percent in the year to June -- an improvement from 0.3 percent in 2013, as agriculture, tourism and trade lifted growth after Cyclone Ian devastated the country in January.
But the nation's official unemployment rate still stands at more than 13 percent nationally and is considerably higher amongst under-21s, who make up half the population.

Vaipulu said the economy and job creation, particularly for the young, would have to be addressed by the incoming parliament.
"I think the government should still concentrate on trying to develop the economy to create more jobs for youth and more opportunities," he said.

Social issues such as youth violence would be tackled "by creating more jobs," he added, saying plans were already under way.
Yesterday's election was only the second in which Tongan commoners have been able to elect the majority of MPs.
Prior to the last election in 2010, the king held the power to appoint the government.
Although the 105 candidates in this week's vote included a record 16 women, all the elected MPs were male.