Samoa now ‘one party state’, Tuilaepa crushes Tautua opposition

APR editor — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 10:26:11 +0000

By Lanuola Tupufia and Sarafina Sanerivi in Apia

HRPP 47 – Tautua Samoa 2

Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi has achieved another first for his country.

As of early today, he has become the first leader of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) to lead the party to a complete demolition of the Opposition in the General Elections.

Only two members of the Tautua Samoa Party survived the HRPP onslaught, giving Tuilaepa’s party nearly all the seats in Parliament.

The unofficial count stands at 47 to the HRPP and 2 to the Tautua Samoa Party. The only remaining Tautua MP is deputy leader, Aeau Dr Peniamina. He is joined by new MP, Ili Setefano Ta’ateo.

Three of more than 20 women candidates won seats with Fiame Naomi Mata’afa making up four women in Parliament. It means one more woman will be added, taking the number of seats in Parliament to 50.

In his victory speech last night, Tuilaepa was one proud leader.

“As leader, and on behalf of the Human Rights Protection Party, I would like to extend my gratitude to all of Samoa for the support, and the overwhelming vote of confidence in our vision for this country,” he said in a statement issued by his office.

‘Not easy journey’
“I would also like to take a moment to acknowledge and commend the leadership of the Opposition, the Tautua Party. This has not been an easy journey, and I congratulate you for the commitment and effort to representing your constituency and your party with such dedication.”

Interestingly, while the HRPP secured the majority of seats, most of them will be filled by new members. Among the casualties are Cabinet Ministers and some long serving MPs.

“My sympathy goes out to the Members of Parliament, especially the Cabinet Ministers who have been unsuccessful in retaining their seats,” Tuilaepa said.

“They deserve our thanks for their commitment and hard work to meet the needs of their constituents, as well as fulfilling their duties and service as Cabinet Ministers.

“But that is the nature of elections. You can only do your best, and hope that voters will choose you again. But as we see time and again, it’s often unpredictable.

“Looking at the results, about half of Parliament’s seats are going to change. This is democracy at work.”

Tuilaepa said the support shown for the HRPP proves that the country trusted their leadership.

‘Many developments’
“HRPP has been leading Samoa for a very long time and there are many developments done during that time. The country is mindful of it.”

The Prime Minister said he knew the results way before they were announced.

The HRPP will hold its ava ceremony today to greet and congratulate all the winners. The special voting booths will also be counted today.

All the attention will now turn to the make up of the HRPP leadership, especially in terms of who will become the Deputy Prime Minister.

Lanuola Tupufia and Sarafina Sanerivi are journalists with the Samoa Observer covering the general election.

HRPP heading for landslide win in Samoan election

APR editor — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 19:17:50 +0000

By Mataeliga Pio Sioa in Apia

The numbers are favouring a landslide win for the ruling Human Rights Protection Party in the Samoan general election with 21 or 43 percent of the 49 seats in Parliament already assured in provisional results today.

A Newsline analysis of the election in the remaining 28 constituencies left to be contested on polling day, may see the HRPP claim a further 21 seats for an overall tally of 42 seats or 86 percent.

The final tally, however, will depend on how the allocation is made of the five seats assured for women in Parliament .

The Minister of Justice, Fiame Naomi Mataafa is already in, so that leaves 4 seats to be decided either by outright win in the constituencies, or on the count of the highest votes won.

The opposition Tautua Samoa Party has only 9 current sitting members in the running to retain their seats.

Party leader Palusalue Fa’apo II is locked up in a tight three-way battle for the Safata West constituency with the Minister of Works, Manu’alesagalala Enokati.

MP Lefau Harry Schuster has two HRPP candidates coming after his Vaimauga i Sisifo Tautua seat.

Fierce challenge
HRPP candidate Faaolesa Katopau Ainuu is mounting a fierce challenge to win the seat away from the Tautua incumbent.

Faleata Sasa’e MP Aveau Niko Palamo is the lone Tautua trying to fight off the challenge to his seat by three other candidates, all bearing the HRPP banner.

A’ana Alofi No. 3 Constituency is a Tautua seat firmly in the hands of Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster. But he has two HRPP candidates gunning for his place.

The Tautua current sitting MPs in Savai’i are clinging to the constituencies of Fa’asaleleaga No.2, Vaisigano No. 2, Falealupo, Salega East and Salega West.

Fa’asaleleaga No.2 MP Papali’i Taeu Masipau is flanked on both sides by two HRPP candidates.

Motuopua’a Aisoli Vaai, is brush off for the third consecutive time the designs of his lone opponent, and HRPP candidate, Tapusatele Mauteni Esera.

The Tautua deputy leader, Aeau Peniamina, is squared up once again against the same two HRPP candidates who were after his Falealupo seat in 2011.

The two seats for Salega East and Salega West are held respectively by Tapuai Toese Ah Sam and Afualo Wood Salele.

Tapuai is up again two HRPP candidates and his former Tautua party colleague but now running as an Independent, Levaopolo Talatonu, who has assumed a new title, Olo Fiti Vaai.

Tautua Samoa registered 24
The Tautua Samoa officially registered 24 candidates for the general elections, including two who were disqualified in court.

The HRPP assured seats include the unopposed seats won in court by the Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Justice Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa and Aleipata Itupa I Luga current sitting member, Amituanai Fagaivalu Samu.

The court upheld candidate challenges they brought against their respective election opponents.

The Minister of State Enterprises, Lautafi Lafi Purcell, was registered as an unopposed candidate for his Satupaitea Constituency.

The HRPP assured seats are where the only candidates in each of the constituencies are running under the party banner.

Tautua Samoa Party – Asia Pacific Report

Samoa now ‘one party state’, Tuilaepa crushes Tautua opposition

HRPP heading for landslide win in Samoan election