Tautua Samoa party candidate to challenge Samoa PM

One candidate has registered to challenge the parliamentary seat held by Samoa's long-running Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi in next month's election.

The Tautua Samoa party leader, Palusalue Faapo II, says the candidate Tu'ula Kiliri has been nominated to run for his political party in the constituency of Lepa.

The nomination yesterday comes after Tuila'epa revealed that his constituency's seat is unopposed for the second general election.

Tuila'epa says the constituency in September last year has unanimously supported him to continue his reign without going to the polls.

The Tautua Samoa candidate had registered his nomination for the 2011 general election.

But he was unable to run against the prime minister and had been disqualified under the village service or monotaga requirement after a legal battle in court that year.

This time the Tautua Samoa leader says their candidate is qualified after a sworn declaration before a lawyer and the Electoral Commissioner.

     

Author: 
Radio New Zealand International