2021 Tongan general election

General elections were held in Tonga on 18 November 2021. Following the death of Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva in 2019, the governing Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (PTOA) fragmented and went into opposition. Finance Minister Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa subsequently left the PTOA and formed the Tonga People's Party (PAK). He ascended to premiership after garnering the support of fellow PTOA defectors, independents and some of the nobles' representatives. Shortly before the election, the PTOA was divided into two factions: the Core Team, led by former Deputy Prime Minister Sēmisi Sika, and the People's Team, headed by Siaosi Pōhiva, the son of ʻAkilisi Pōhiva.

Major campaign issues included government corruption and the COVID-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Tu‘i‘onetoa and his allies did not promote the PAK during the campaign, reportedly due to the imprisonment of its deputy leader, ‘Etuate Lavulavu, for corruption. The two PTOA factions ran separate candidate lists, and despite receiving the most votes in numerous constituencies, the party only won three seats due to vote splitting between the groups. Both Sika and Pōhiva also lost their seats. Prime Minister Tuʻiʻonetoa was the only successful candidate from the PAK, while independents won 13 seats. No women were elected. Following the election, former Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni and former Finance Minister ʻAisake Eke contested the parliamentary election for prime minister. Tuʻiʻonetoa initially ran, but later withdrew due to insufficient support and backed Eke. Sovaleni went on to defeat Eke, and he assumed office on 27 December. Three cabinet ministers later lost their seats after being found guilty in court of engaging in corruption during the election.