13 Nov 2009

Tonga's assembly to consider recommendations from Constitutional and Electoral Commission

6:45 pm on 13 November 2009

Tonga's Legislative Assembly is to meet from next week with consideration of the new recommendations for greater democracy expected to be a priority.

The Constitutional and Electoral Commission made public its report last week with most of its recommendations expected.

A Tonga newspaper publisher and a veteran democracy campaigner, Kalafi Moala, says a likely sticking point will be the type of constituencies the new system operates under.

The Commission recommends that the present multi-member electorates be retained and this is backed by the pro-democracy MPs, but Mr Moala says many in the Government want single member constituencies.

He says there's a belief this could raise voter participation.