FAST Party

Lawyers' body concerned about Samoa impasse

It says recent attacks on the nation's judiciary are unacceptable, while current legal and constitutional issues can only be solved through rule of law.

Despite FAST party holding a one seat majority in parliament, the caretaker government of the HRPP is still refusing to concede.

Law Society president Tiana Epati says judges shouldn't be undermined for exercising their independent and impartial judgment.

Samoa's FAST party seeks clarification of court ruling

An Appeal Court decision last week upheld the Suypreme Court's earlier voiding of an extra women's seat in the wash-up from April's national election.

The ruling meant the FAST party maintained its majority of 26 seats in the 51-seat Parliament.

But the court also ruled that six rather than five women MPs was the correct number under Samoa's system providing for 10 percent of parliamentary seats to be reserved for women.

The FAST Party deputy leader Laauli Leuatea Polataivao said the caucus was awaiting the court's clarification.

FAST and HRPP talks remain deadlocked

The talks were an attempt to break the deadlock between both parties and they did not end well.

A statement issued by FAST leader, Fiame Naomi Mataafa said the talks have reached an impasse.

“I wish to issue this statement to let the country know of where we are at this time,” Fiame said.

Fiame and her party maintain that FAST holds the majority of 26 seats to HRPP’s 25 seats following the 9 April general elections and their members were sworn in on the 24 May 2021.

Samoa talks fail to resolve impasse

The parties met yesterday in Apia to try and resolve the stalemate resulting from the 9 April election.

In a statement last night, Fiame maintained that FAST held the majority of 26 seats to the HRPP's 25.

She said these FAST members had been sworn in, with a cabinet appointed and speaker and deputy chosen.

The HRPP leader, caretaker prime minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi continued to claim the result was not clear because 10 percent of 51 members or six women representatives in the House had not been achieved.

Samoa leaders both keen to meet following court ruling

Following yesterdays Court of Appeal decision, both the caretaker Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and FAST Party leader Fiame Naomi Mata'afa announced they plan to meet.

But it is clear their intentions are miles apart.

Speaking on TV3Samoa yesterday, Tuilaepa acknowledged the decision to void the appointment of a sixth woman MP meant his HRPP has 25 seats to FAST's 26.

Fiame told local media that with those numbers, they will be looking to meet with Tuilaepa to discuss his departure from office.

Samoan court voids appeal for additional women's seat

Samoa's Court of Appeal has voided the legal challenge by a Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) women's candidate, who said she was wrongly removed as an MP.

Ali'imalemanu Alofa Tuuau had been appointed as the 6th woman's MP by the Electoral Commissioner, but then had her appointment rescinded in a decision by the Supreme Court.

That decision gave the newcomer Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party the slimmest majority in the new parliament, and this latest decision now confirms that.

FAST party lawyer dismisses claims Fiame Naomi Mata'afa was sworn in as PM illegally

When asked by Pacific Beat what she made of the claims by Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, who's been Samoa's Prime Minister for more than 20 years, she responded with “bah humbug”.

“We've spent the last five weeks in court challenging all the grubby things that [the HRPP party which has dominated Samoan politics for four decades] have been doing. Misusing the law, and all the officials,” Taulapapa said.

“And the most disgraceful behaviour [on Monday was] locking us out of our house, the people's house.”

FAST Party forms Government according to deputy Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio

The FAST Party deputy Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio told RNZ that there's no doubt his party is now the government.

He said they were forced into holding Monday's swearing-in ceremony outside parliament.

"According to the constitution, the head of state is supposed to swear in, and if not the head of state then it will be a council of deputies. But none of those were available. They didn't want to be part of this," he said.

"So as far as we're concerned, we formed the government within the 45 legal days and we've done the swearing in and we do have a government."

Samoa Supreme Court hears FAST party challenge

Without explanation, the Head of State Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi announced he was suspending tomorrow's sitting of Parliament.

The opposition Fast party had been expected to secure a majority of seats when the assembly sat.

Fast's lawyer, Taulapapa Brenda Heather-Latu, told the Samoa Observer the suspension is unlawful and the party is seeking court orders to allow Parliament to re-convene tomorrow.

Our correspondent, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia is at the Supreme Court and said there are police covering all the entry points.

Samoa's majority party eager for new government to be installed

Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, the leader of the FAST party, told RNZ her party won the majority of seats in the 9 April election and could form a government, which she believed should happen early next week, despite opposition from the caretaker government.

Her party is now waiting on the Head of State to decide his next step.

"The due process is to confirm our numbers with the Clerk of the house, and through him ask the Head of State to reconvene parliament, so we've done that," Fiame said.