HRPP

The incoming FAST Party government holds 26 seats to the HRPP's 19.

FAST, which won the election but has been stymied in its efforts to assume power by the HRPP, continues to hold a majority of the 51 seats in the parliament.

The caretaker government has lost six seats during the electoral petitions while a further two are to be contested again at the agreement of candidates.

Today, as the electoral petitions continue to come before the court, three HRPP candidates who had won their seats, agreed to resign, ahead of facing the judge, and so force by-elections.

The Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) has now lost a total of five seats and holds 20 compared to the election winning FAST party's 26.

Two cases were heard today, with another deferred until tomorrow.

Today's case against the Faatuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party's Gagaemauga No 1 seat holder and Deputy Prime Minister-elect Tuala Tevaga Ponifasio was settled amicably, and withdrawn.

RNZ Pacific's correspondent in Samoa, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia, says the other was withdrawn but the seat will be contested again.

It means the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) now has 24 seats with FAST on 26 and a by-election to come.

The court ruled the re-elected HRPP MP for Sagaga No.2 constituency, Seiuli Ueligitone Seiuli, guilty of 13 bribery and two charges of treating.

The court also found the petitioner and former HRPP MP who ran in the general election as an independent, Mauailaivao Patelesio Ah Him, guilty of 10 bribery and one treating charges.

There will now be a by-election in Sagaga No.2 and both the petitioner and respondent have been barred from running.

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.

Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, speaking formally as the country's elected prime minister, slammed the behaviour Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and his Human Rights Protection Party.

Fiame's FAST party, which won the most seats in last month's election, and the previous ruling party, HRPP, are waiting for the Supreme Court to rule on several contentious issues.

Speaking in a broadcast from FAST headquarters she said MPs and officials must move from their roles and offices and allow the public service to focus on its work in a business-like and orderly way.

It was ordered by the Head of State as means to break the deadlock, with the ruling HRPP and the Opposition FAST party tied on 26 parliamentary seats apiece.

The move has been condemned by the FAST party as unconstitutional, but until the court passes down its decisions, candidates are left with little option but to push ahead on the assumption that the Samoan people will go back to the polls in 11 days' time.

So will either of the two main parties change their strategy this time?

About 8,000 voters can cast their ballots over four days before Friday's election.

The publication of first results has raised questions among commentators as it might influence the remaining voters.

The Electoral Commissioner Faimalomatumua said they had decided not to 'sleep on the results' and would continue to count and announce the results each day.

189 candidates, including 21 women, are contesting the 50 seats for a five-year term in the legislative assembly.

Majority of the seats in Parliament have been occupied by HRPP with only two seats to Tautua Samoa party.

This means there would be no opposition party at all, making Samoa a one party state. With that being said it is always a two way street.

Critics are saying Samoa being a one party state could be chaos as there would be no opposition to keep the government in check. While some experts are saying Samoa has been a one party state for some time anyway, technically.

The governing Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) of long-time Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi won 44 of the 49 seats in parliament. It was the best ever election performance for the party, which has dominated the country's politics for most of the time since its formation in 1982.

The victory for the party of long-time Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has dealt a huge blow for the opposition Tautua Samoa Party, which has been decimated.

While the final count is yet to be released, it is all but certain that the ruling Human Rights Protection Party will command a two-thirds majority of parliament.