Akosita Lavulavu will be the only woman MP in Tonga's parliament after winning yesterday's by-election in Vava'u.
Mrs Lavulavu is the director of the Unuaki 'o Tonga Royal Institute, which provides tertiary education services and wife of former Tourism Minister 'Etuate Lavulavu who was convicted of bribery charges at the begining of the year, triggering the by-election.
She received 754 votes, 218 votes clear of her nearest rival and former cabinet minister, Viliami Latu.
Matangi Tonga reports there was a 69% voter turnout in the Vava'u 16 constituency.
History made in #Tonga Vava-u by-election with female candidate Akosita Lavulavu elected to #Parliament
— Dyfan Jones (@JonesDyfan) July 14, 2016
Fantastic news from #Tonga. #woman elected to #parliament in by-election. #womeninpolitics #Pacific @iKNOW_Politics #womeninleadership
— Nicolas Burniat (@NBurniat) July 14, 2016
