Political Finance Database

 The 14 independent candidates elected at the November 2017 Tongan national election belong to the registered organisation known as the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.  However, no legislation yet exists for the registration and regulation of poltical parties or their finances. The Report of the Commonwealth Election Observers Group on the 2017 election recommended that" Should poltical parties become formalised, their campaign  expenditure should also be regulated". The Report also recognised the lack of any provisions to track donations for election campaigns. 

Source: Tonga Global Integrity Report 2008; Inter-parliamentary Union Parline database; Report of the Commonwealth  Observer Group, Kingdom of Tonga National Parliamentary Election,16th November, 2017. 

No legislation exists to regulate donations to candidates. 

Source: Tonga Electoral Commission, http://www.tongaelections.com/index.php/elections/laws-and-regulations

The 14 independent candidates elected at the November 2017 Tongan national election belong to the registered organisation known as the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.  However, no legislation yet exists for the registration and regulation of poltical parties or their finances. The Report of the Commonwealth Election Observers Group on the 2017 election recommended that" Should poltical parties become formalised, their campaign  expenditure should also be regulated". The Report also recognised the lack of any provisions to track donations for election campaigns. 

Source: Tonga Global Integrity Report 2008; Inter-parliamentary Union Parline database; Report of the Commonwealth  Observer Group, Kingdom of Tonga National Parliamentary Election,16th November, 2017. 

The 14 independent candidates elected at the November 2017 Tongan national election belong to the registered organisation known as the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.  However, no legislation yet exists for the registration and regulation of poltical parties or their finances. The Report of the Commonwealth Election Observers Group on the 2017 election recommended that" Should poltical parties become formalised, their campaign  expenditure should also be regulated". The Report also recognised the lack of any provisions to track donations for election campaigns. 

Source: Tonga Global Integrity Report 2008; Inter-parliamentary Union Parline database; Report of the Commonwealth  Observer Group, Kingdom of Tonga National Parliamentary Election,16th November, 2017. 

There is no legislation to regulate donations to candidates.

Source: Tonga Election Commission,  www.tongaelections.com/index.php/elections/laws-and-regulations

 The 14 independent candidates elected at the November 2017 Tongan national election belong to the registered organisation known as the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.  However, no legislation yet exists for the registration and regulation of poltical parties or their finances. The Report of the Commonwealth Election Observers Group on the 2017 election recommended that" Should poltical parties become formalised, their campaign  expenditure should also be regulated". The Report also recognised the lack of any provisions to track donations for election campaigns. 

Source: Tonga Global Integrity Report 2008; Inter-parliamentary Union Parline database; Report of the Commonwealth  Observer Group, Kingdom of Tonga National Parliamentary Election,16th November, 2017. 

There is no legislation to regulate donations to election candidates .

Source: Elections Act, 1989; Electoral Commission Act, 2010. (www.tongaelections.com/index.php/elections/laws-and-regulations)

No legislation is yet required to address this issue. Current legislation only refers to behaviour of candidates for election.

Source: Electoral Act, 1989; Electoral Commission Act, 2010. 

Electoral legislation only refers to campaign expenditure of candidates , which indirectly limits donations from any source. 

Source: Electoral Act, 1989. 

Electoral legislation only refers to campaign expenditure of candidates , which indirectly limits donations from any source. 

Source: Electoral Act, 1989. 

Electoral legislation only refers to campaign expenditure of candidates ,which indirectly limits donations from any source. 

Source: Electoral Act, 1989. 

There are no provisions regarding such matters  in any electoral legislation. However the Electoral Commission can make recommendations for changes to the law concerning elections.

Source: Electoral Act, 1989, Section 10, Electoral Commision Act, 2010.  

 The 14 independent candidates elected at the November 2017 Tongan national election belong to the registered organisation known as the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.  However, no legislation yet exists for the registration and regulation of poltical parties or their finances. The Report of the Commonwealth Election Observers Group on the 2017 election recommended that" Should poltical parties become formalised, their campaign  expenditure should also be regulated". The Report also recognised the lack of any provisions to track donations for election campaigns. 

Source: Tonga Global Integrity Report 2008; Inter-parliamentary Union Parline database; Report of the Commonwealth  Observer Group, Kingdom of Tonga National Parliamentary Election,16th November, 2017. 

 The 14 independent candidates elected at the November 2017 Tongan national election belong to the registered organisation known as the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.  However, no legislation yet exists for the registration and regulation of poltical parties or their finances. The Report of the Commonwealth Election Observers Group on the 2017 election recommended that" Should poltical parties become formalised, their campaign  expenditure should also be regulated". The Report also recognised the lack of any provisions to track donations for election campaigns. 

Source: Tonga Global Integrity Report 2008; Inter-parliamentary Union Parline database; Report of the Commonwealth  Observer Group, Kingdom of Tonga National Parliamentary Election,16th November, 2017. 

There is no legislation to regulate donations to election candidates.

Source: Source: Elections Act, 1989; Electoral Commission Act, 2010. (www.tongaelections.com/index.php/elections/laws-and-regulations)

There is no legislation to regulate donations to election candidates.

Source: Source: Elections Act, 1989; Electoral Commission Act, 2010. (www.tongaelections.com/index.php/elections/laws-and-regulations)

 The 14 independent candidates elected at the November 2017 Tongan national election belong to the registered organisation known as the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.  However, no legislation yet exists for the registration and regulation of poltical parties or their finances. The Report of the Commonwealth Election Observers Group on the 2017 election recommended that" Should poltical parties become formalised, their campaign  expenditure should also be regulated". The Report also recognised the lack of any provisions to track donations for election campaigns. 

Source: Tonga Global Integrity Report 2008; Inter-parliamentary Union Parline database; Report of the Commonwealth  Observer Group, Kingdom of Tonga National Parliamentary Election,16th November, 2017. 

There is no legislation to regulate donations to election candidates.

Source: Source: Elections Act, 1989; Electoral Commission Act, 2010. (www.tongaelections.com/index.php/elections/laws-and-regulations)

 The 14 independent candidates elected at the November 2017 Tongan national election belong to the registered organisation known as the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.  However, no legislation yet exists for the registration and regulation of poltical parties or their finances. The Report of the Commonwealth Election Observers Group on the 2017 election recommended that" Should poltical parties become formalised, their campaign  expenditure should also be regulated". The Report also recognised the lack of any provisions to track donations for election campaigns. 

Source: Tonga Global Integrity Report 2008; Inter-parliamentary Union Parline database; Report of the Commonwealth  Observer Group, Kingdom of Tonga National Parliamentary Election,16th November, 2017. 

 The 14 independent candidates elected at the November 2017 Tongan national election belong to the registered organisation known as the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.  However, no legislation yet exists for the registration and regulation of poltical parties or their finances. The Report of the Commonwealth Election Observers Group on the 2017 election recommended that" Should poltical parties become formalised, their campaign  expenditure should also be regulated". The Report also recognised the lack of any provisions to track donations for election campaigns. 

Source: Tonga Global Integrity Report 2008; Inter-parliamentary Union Parline database; Report of the Commonwealth  Observer Group, Kingdom of Tonga National Parliamentary Election,16th November, 2017. 

There is no legislation to regulate donations to election candidates.

Source: Source: Elections Act, 1989; Electoral Commission Act, 2010. (www.tongaelections.com/index.php/elections/laws-and-regulations)

There are no provisions in any electoral legislation regarding donations from any source. However the Electoral Commission can make recommendations for changes to the law  to address the issue of donations election candidates. 

Source: Electoral Act, 1989: Electoral Commission Act, 2010 

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here are no provisions in any electoral legislation regarding donations from any source. However the Electoral Commission can make recommendations for changes to the law  to address the issue of donations to election candidates. 

Source: Electoral Act, 1989: Electoral Commission Act, 2010 

 No legislation exists to provide any form of public funding to political parties. 

Source: Tonga Electoral Commission, http://www.tongaelections.com/index.php/elections/laws-and-regulations

 No provisions exit in any regulations or legislation to provide free or subsidised access to media for poltical parties.

Source: Tonga Electoral Commission, http://www.tongaelections.com/index.php/elections/laws-and-regulations

No legislation exists. 

Source: Tonga Electoral Commission, http://www.tongaelections.com/index.php/elections/laws-and-regulations

No legislation exists. 

Source: Tonga Electoral Commission, http://www.tongaelections.com/index.php/elections/laws-and-regulations

No legislation exists. 

Source: Tonga Electoral Commission, http://www.tongaelections.com/index.php/elections/laws-and-regulations

It is illegal for any person to give or promise to give money or valuable gifts to influence the behavior of voters during the election or within 3 moths of the election.  Every person who committs bribery is guilty of an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding $5,000 and imprisonment for up to 3 years.

Source: Section 21 Bribery, Electoral Act 1989;  Section 17, Electoral Amendment Act, 2010. 

No legislation or regulations exist to limit political party expenditure.

Source: Tonga Electoral Commission, http://www.tongaelections.com/index.php/elections/laws-and-regulations

No candidate may spend more than TOP $10,000 during, or 6 months before or after, any election campaign (US$4,556.50). The definition of campaign expendiure  includes the cost of entertaining (including food and drink) and the cost of transporting people to a polling station. 

Source: Section 24: Permitted Election Expenses, Electoral Act 1989.

No candidate may spend more than $10,000 during, or 6 months before or after, any election campaign. The definition of campaign expendiure  includes the cost of entertaining (including food and drink) and the cost of transporting people to a polling station. 

Source: Section 24: Permitted Election Expenses, Electoral Act 1989.

No candidate, or anyone acting on his/her behalf, may spend more than $10,000 during, or 6 months before or after, any election campaign. The definition of campaign expendiure  includes the cost of entertaining (including food and drink) and the cost of transporting people to a polling station. 

Source: Section 24 (2) : Permitted Election Expenses, Electoral Act 1989.

No candidate may spend more than $10,000 during, or 6 months before or after, any election campaign. The definition of campaign expendiure  includes the cost of entertaining (including food and drink) and the cost of transporting people to a polling station. The legislation does not specifically identify media advertising as an electoral expense, but it would be allowed if the total of campaign expenses, including media advertising, did not exceed $10,000.  

Source: Section 24: Permitted Election Expenses, Electoral Act 1989.

The Electoral Act does not regulate online media expenditure.

The Electoral Act does not regulate online media expenditure. However, no candidate may spend more than $10,000 during, or 6 months before or after, any election campaign.  

Source: Section 24: Permitted Election Expenses, Electoral Act 1989.

No legislation exists.  The  Commonwealth Observers Report on national election in 2017 recommended that " should the trend toward a political party system in Tonga, consideration should be given to the development of a legal regulatory framework and a programme of public dialogue and civic education, which may be useful in addressing emerging issues, including in relation to campaign financing".  

Source: Report Commonwealth Observers Group, Kingdom of Tonga National Parliamentary Election 16th November 2017, p 28.  

No legislation exists.  The  Commonwealth Observers Report on national election in 2017 recommended that " should the trend toward a political party system in Tonga, consideration should be given to the development of a legal regulatory framework and a programme of public dialogue and civic education, which may be useful in addressing emerging issues, including in relation to campaign financing".  

Source: Report Commonwealth Observers Group, Kingdom of Tonga National Parliamentary Election 16th November 2017, p 28.  

The Supervisor of Elections is a member of the three person Electoral Commission with responsibility for the regular business of the Commission. Candidates are required to "deliver to the Supervisor a sworn statement of his election expenses, itemised and complete in all respect". The Electoral Act was amended in 2010 to reduce the time period by which candidates are required to deliver their sworn statement from 1 month to within 14 days of the election.

Source: Electoral Commission Act, 2010; Section 24 Electoral Act 1989; Section 19, Electoral (Amendment) Act 2010.

Legislation requires only candidates to provide a report of their campaign expenditure to the Supervisor of Elections.

Source: Section 24, Electoral Act, 1989.

The Electoral Commission has the responsibility to "regulate and monitor electoral expenditure by candidates in accordance with section 24 of the Electoral Act", There is no provision in any legislation requiring that the record of candidate electoral expenses must be made public.  However, the Commission "may make recommendations for changes to the law concerning elections".

Source: Sections 10 (d) and (l), Electoral Commission Act, 2010.

Candidates are only required to report on campaign expenditure. 

Source: Section 24, Electoral Act, 1998

Candidates are only required to report on campaign expenditure. 

Source: Section 24, Electoral Act, 1998

Only candidates are required to provide information on electoral expenses to the Supervisor of Elections. The Tonga Electoral Commission website states that:

A Candidate must lodge their statement of expenses with the Supervisor of Elections within 14 days of the election. It must be itemized and complete in all aspects".

The Return of Election Expenses form requires a list of all expenses incurred by the candidate, or on his behalf. The details of the nature of the payment, the amount and date expended must be listed for each expense.

Source: Section 24, Electoral Act 1989; Tonga Electoral Commission http://www.tongaelections.com/index.php/candidates/election-campaigns/76-statement-of-expenses-form

Candidates provide their electoral expenses returns to the Supervisor of Elections, who is a member of the Tonga Electoral Commission.

Source: Section 24, Electoral Act, 1989;   Section 10, Electoral Commission Act, 2010

The Tonga Electoral Commission has the power to determine election appeals, challenges and any other disputes and recommend prosecution for election offences; 

Source: Section 10 (2) (e) and (f). Electoral Commission Act, 2010. 

The Tonga Electoral Commission has the power to determine election appeals, challenges and any other disputes and recommend prosecution for election offences; 

Source: Section 10 (2) (e) and (f). Electoral Commission Act, 2010. 

The Electoral Act sets out a range of election offences which include bribery and threats . Fines range from TOP$ 3-5,000 and prison terms of up to three years. In addition it is an offence to spend more than TPO $10,000 on campaign expenses. If found guilty sanctions include a fine of up to TPP$10,000. In the case of serious offences the Supreme Court may declare the candidates election void, or if he/she has taken their seat in the Legislative Assembly, then they can be dismissed from office by the Assembly.

Source: Part IV Election Offences, Electoral Act, 1989; Sections 17-19, Electoral Amendment Act, 2010.