By Kalafi Moala
The campaigns for the 20 November general elections are in full motion.
As usual, the intensity of campaigns come from the 71 candidates seeking people’s representation from all 17 constituencies, and not so much from among the nobles.
The campaign among the 18 noble candidates is more quietly carried out among themselves, negotiating, and coming to an understanding such as “Let me go in this time, and you can go in the next time!”
Most interesting among the people’s candidacies are the constituencies that are hotly contested. For example: Tongatapu 6 with six candidates; Tt 7 with seven candidates; Tt 8 with seven candidates; Ha’apai 12 with six candidates; Ha’apai 13 with five candidates; and Vava’u 15 with five candidates.
Candidates for those six constituencies are more hopeful for their chances to win over the incumbents.
On the other hand, you have constituencies with fewer candidates such as Tongatapu 1 with three candidates; Tt 2 with two candidates; Tt 3 with two candidates and Tt 5 with three candidates.
On the outer islands, there’s Vava’u 16 with two candidates, and Vava’u 14 with three candidates.
As in former elections, the incumbents do have an advantage. They have been in office for four years, and thus have been in the public attention far more than other candidates. This is reflected in the fact that in Tongatapu 2, 3, and Vava’u 16, there is only 1 candidate contesting each incumbent.
So far there is very little sign of group campaigning (or campaigning as political parties). The PTOA (Democrats) have been the strongest political grouping of former elections, but the split and disunity among them have weakened their group standing. Thus, some of their members who are candidates may be running as independents.
The airwaves and social media have been the main media platforms for campaigning, although political banners are beginning to appear in different places. Face-to-face meetings have also been called in all of the constituencies.
There are four weeks before the election, and there is expectation that the level of campaigning will lift to a new level of intensity as we get close to 20 November. Further updates will follow, as surveys are being conducted in various constituencies.
