KINGDOM OF TONGA

• Official name: Pule'anga Fakatu'i 'o Tonga (Kingdom of Tonga)
• Location: Pacific Ocean
• International organisations: African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, Commonwealth of Nations, Pacific Islands Forum, United Nations
• Borders: None
• Coastline: Pacific Ocean
• Land area: 748 Km2
• Population: 110,000
• Annual GDP (PPP) per capita: US$4,600 (2009 CIA estimate). World ranking: 118
• Ethnicity: The Tongans are a Polynesian people. There is a small but prominent Chinese minority.
• Language: Tongan is the official language, but English is the language of business and administration.
• Religion: Most Tongans are Protestant Christians.
• Form of government: Constitutional monarchy.
• Capital: Nuku'alofa
• Constitution: The Constitution of the Kingdom of Tonga came into effect on 4 November 1875, and was revised on 1 January 1967.
• Head of state: King Tupou VI came to the throne on 18 March 2012.
• Head of government: The Prime Minister, who is appointed by the king. Since the reforms in 2010 the Prime Minister must have the confidence of the Legislative Assembly.
• Legislature: Tonga has a unicameral legislature, the Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea), which has 26 members: 17 elected by the people, plus nine nobles elected by their peers, all elected for four-year terms.
• Electoral authority: The Registrar of Electors conducts elections.
• Freedom House 2011 rating: Political Rights 3, Civil Liberties 3
• Transparency International Corruption Index: 31% (95 of 178 countries rated)
• Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom 2010 Index: 79% (63 of 178 countries rated)
• Heritage Foundation Economic Freedom 2010 Index: 57% (109 of 178 countries rated)

Political history

Tonga was ruled by a hierarchy of Polynesian chiefs when it was discovered by the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1643. Under European influence the traditional system was undermined, and civil war broke out, until in 1845 the head of the Tupou clan declared himself king. Under George Tupou I a constitution was proclaimed in 1875, although the kings retained real power. In 1900 Tonga became a British protectorate, and kings shared power with the British Consul for the next 70 years. The protectorate was ended in June 1970 and Tonga resumed its status as an independent kingdom.

Under King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, who came to the throne in 1965, there was little political reform. The king and nobility continued to rule the country, although there was freedom of political association and a free press. Tupou IV died in September 2006 and was succeeded by his son, George Tupou V, who faced increasing pressure for reform. When the king rejected a report which recommended a transition to democratic government, riots broke out which destroyed most of central Nuku'alofa. The king declared a state of emergency, but also appointed a Constitution and Electoral Commission to report on constitutional reforms. The king also ceded much of his power to the Prime Minister. Siale'ataonga Tu'ivakano, a member of the nobility, has been Prime Minister since December 2010.

The 2010 elections were the first fully democratic election in Tongan history. The Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (DPFI), which favours a full constitutional democracy, won 12 of the 17 popularly elected seats, with the others going to independents. The Prime Minister is now accountable to the majority of the Assembly rather than to the King. Nevertheless King Tupou V retained an influential role in government until his death in March 2012. He was succeeded by his brother, Tupou VI.

Freedom House's 2011 report on Tonga says: "Tonga is an electoral democracy... Widespread official corruption is a major source of public discontent. The royals, nobles, and their top associates have allegedly used state assets for personal benefit, and transparency and accountability are lacking... Despite constitutional guarantees of freedom of the press, the government has a history of suppressing media criticism. A Department of Information oversees all media reporting. Nevertheless, letters to the editor and commentaries critical of the government appear regularly in all newspapers, including those owned by the state or in which the state owns shares... Criticism of the monarchy is not tolerated... Freedoms of assembly and association are upheld... The judiciary is generally independent, and traditional village elders frequently adjudicate local disputes. Criminal suspects may exercise the right to an attorney and a court hearing. However, a shortage of judges has created serious backlogs."

Updated March 2012