Tonga's elections are to be held on Thursday November 16.
Photo: 123RF
King Tupou VI issued the Writs of Election on Tuesday, confirming the Legislative Assembly General Election.
Radio Tonga reported the Electoral Commission had called for the nomination of candidates to be held on September 27 and 28.
The elections were brought forward a year after last month's dissolution of Parliament by royal decree.
A women's rights advocate in Tonga says the early elections give new candidates, including women, a more even playing field to contest the vote.
Tonga's caretaker prime minister has sacked his deputy and another minister, only weeks out from an early election.
Tonga's Electoral Commission is trying to fast-track the updating of the roll in light of the royal dissolution of parliament.
The interim Prime Minister of Tonga, 'Akilisi Pohiva, has welcomed the reasons given for the King's decision to dissolve parliament and to call an early election.
The speaker of Tonga's parliament says he had to ask the King to dissolve parliament as the government was working to concentrate power within cabinet.
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