by-elections

According to preliminary count results, more than 2,700 votes were cast with the FAST party candidate Lautimuia Uelese Vaai gaining 1,425 to the HRPP's Samau Timani Samau's just over 1,000 votes.

The official results are expected to be announced today and if confirmed will see FAST secure 32 seats in the 51 seat parliament.

The by-elections followed the election petition process after the controversial general poll held on 9 April, which led, eventually, to the FAST Party assuming power.

The long-time ruling party, the HRPP, which trailed FAST by one seat after the poll, then lost seven seats in the petition process.

The six constituencies are Sagaga 2; Sagaga 4; Anna Alofi 2; Safata 2; Falealili 2 and Aleipata Itupa I Lalo.

The date for the seven by-elections will be November 26, and pre-polling will be held two days earlier on November 24.

TV1Samoa reports that at 4pm on Friday, a total of 22 candidates had been accepted by the Office of the Electoral Commission (OEC) which included 2 women candidates.

A public notice by the OEC later showed the FAST party fielding 10 candidates, one more than the opposition Human Rights Protection Party, one from Tautua Samoa party, and two independents.

A social media post by the Office of the Electoral Commission said polling day will now be November 26, and pre-polling will be held two days earlier on November 24.

The Office of the Electoral Commission said the Writ for Elections for all seven Electoral Constituencies will now be issued on 29 October 2021.

Nominations for candidates for all seven Electoral Constituencies will open November 1 and close November 5.

The seven by-elections have been called as a result of petitions against election night winners of the 9 April 2021 General Elections.

The Samoa Electoral Commission said polling for seven by-elections will have happen on 12 November.

The seven seats became vacant after the petition process resulting from the April general election.

Writs for the by-elections will be issued on Friday with nominations throughout next week.

Campaigning can then begin a week later, running until 9 November.

Pre-polling will start on 10 November.

Photo file 

RNZ Pacific correspondent says there five by-elections, four in Upolu and one in Savai'i. There are just three election petition cases awaiting decisions.

Pending the results of the by elections, the 51 parliamentary seats stand at 26 for FAST and 20 for the HRPP.

The new Speaker of Parliament, Papalii Li'o Ta'eu Masipa'u says he has not received any formal notification of the results of the 28 electoral petitions from April general election.

He says once he receives the notification he will issue the warrants for the by-elections and the process will start.