Samoa elections

Independent candidate wins by-election in Samoa

After the final and official counting of votes on Saturday, Foisala Lilo Tuu Ioane polled 441 ballots, and Human Rights Protection Party candidate So'oalo Fineaso Poka So'oalo polled 360 votes.

Foisala has indicated he intends to join the ruling FAST Party.

Two other candidates, independent candidate Falesaopule Vaialia Iosua polled 287 votes, and the FAST candidate, Lomia Tauloa Moafanua Sia'aga received 259 ballots.

The by-election was triggered by the death of FAST MP Va'ele Paia'aua Iona Sekuini, who died in March this year.

     

Opinion: Why Samoa's Head of State can’t reject election results

It was reported that the counsel for the incumbent Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), Aumua Ming Leung Wai, seeks to justify that declaration, by arguing the call for fresh elections was lawful because they were exercising their 'reserve powers'.

The Attorney General is also likely to make the same argument, and they have indicated that they are likely to engage the services of a Queen's Counsel (a foreign lawyer whose work has been given special acknowledgement by the British Crown) to act or advise on the matter.

Legal challenge against call for second Samoan election not delayed

The Head of State last week called for a second election as a way to break a month-long deadlock between the caretaker Human Rights Protection Party government and the newcomer FAST party, that has prevented a new government being formed.

The move toward a second election came after advice from the caretaker prime minister, after no clear winner arose from the country's election last month.

The FAST party has called the move toward a second election unconstitutional, and filed a challenge in the Supreme Court seeking to have the head of state's decision thrown out.

Samoa election saga takes to the Supreme Court; challenges upheld

The attorney general had attempted to have newcomer FAST party's challenge dismissed.

The FAST (Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi) party, which is caught in a 26-seat deadlock with the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), is challenging the electoral commissioner's decision to add the unelected seat, which went the way of the caretaker HRPP government, creating the impasse.

Petition to NZ parliament urging review of Samoa election

The petition of Josefina Fuimaono-Sapolu seeks to ensure a free, fair and democratic process was conducted.

Fuimaono-Sapolu draws attention to the appointment of an MP who did not win in her constituency.

     

Samoa election: Independent MP sides with new FAST party

The Samoa Observer reports the decision comes hours after the paper revealed that as part of his negotiations with both parties, Tuala had asked HRPP leader Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi to stand down, as a condition of the party securing his vote.

Tuala's announcement, and creation of an additional parliamentary seat last night leaves Parliament in a 26-26 deadlock.

Parties are only given 45 days after election day to form a government.

The villages of Mauga, Patamea, Samalaeulu and Saleaula gathered at Samalaeulu and hosted an ava ceremony for Tuala.

No complaints about o'o ahead of Samoa election

The practice known as o'o or momoli involves presentations of money, food and fine mats.

In the lead-up to the 9 April General Election, there are widespread allegations of the practice, but no official complaints reports the Samoa Observer.

Commissioner Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio said o'o was only allowed after the election, for a period of three years when it is banned until after the 2026 election.

Moves to restrict the practice have been unpopular with voters and seen as an intrusion into a long-standing Samoan cultural tradition.

Samoa Elections candidates cautioned about bribery penalties

The candidates have been warned it is illegal and labeled as an election bribery under the law with a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment if convicted.

The recipients of gifts given as a bribe also stand to be prosecuted under the law with similar penalties, if found guilty.

Samoa’s Electoral Commissioner Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio is reminding voters and candidates, to be mindful of the law.

Retired judge to preside over Samoa election eligibility cases

Justice Lesatele Rapi Va'ai, was sworn in before the head of state ahead of this week's hearings.

He has come out of retirement for 12 months to work alongside several other judges.

There are now 17 cases to be heard against decisions regarding around 200 candidates made by the Electoral Commissioner.

There cases were withdrawn.

They included a petition by Finance Minister, Sili Epa Tuioti, regarding a criminal conviction for one of his rivals.

Two candidates for Samoa by-election

They include the former speaker and government minister, Laauli Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt, who triggered the by-election by resigning from parliament.

This followed a report from Parliament's ethics committee which found he'd attempted to mislead the house.

Laauli will stand for the new party he established, Faatuatua Samoa ua Tasi or FAST.

The other candidate is Faaulusau Simi Laulua, who will be running as an independent.

The by-election will be held on the 28th of August.