18 Mar 2005

Results through for nine people's seats in Tonga election

11:13 am on 18 March 2005

Results are through for the nine parliamentary seats up for grabs in the Tonga election.

The King has vowed to choose two of the people's MPs for Cabinet positions.

In Vava'u, the two people's representatives elected are Samiu Kuita Vaipulu and Viliami Kaufusi Helu, who is part of the pro-democracy movement.

This means the pro-democracy movement has now improved on its majority in the people's seats, with eight of the nine seats, compared with seven in 2002.

For the main island of Tongatapu, the three MPs elected were Akilisi Pohiva, Isileli Pulu and Fred Sevele.

For Ha'apai, the MPs elected were Uliti Uata, and the number two representative who was last year's number one, Funeai Funaki.

Sunia Fili was elected in Eua and Sione P Haukinima for the Niuas.