Human Rights Protection Party

In a solemn address in Parliament yesterday, Laauli Leuatea Polataivao Fosi pleaded with the Leader of the Opposition to reconsider an electoral petition Human Rights Protection Party has lodged against the member for Vaimauga 3 constituency.

TV1 Samoa reports Laauli acknowledged that the new member Lautimuia Uelese Vaai left the session to see his lawyer.

However, he added that feelings and perceptions had changed since the appointment of Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo as the Leader of Opposition in the House.

The party noted that it was time to move forward.

On Tuesday, MP Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, Lawyer Maiava Visekota Peteru and Leader of the HRPP, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, were all found guilty of contempt of court.

It was alleged that the defendants undermined the Court's authority by criticizing its decisions on electoral matters, following last year's troubled election.

 A traditional welcoming kava ceremony (ava o le feiloaiga) was held at the Petesa HRPP party headquarters to welcome two Members of Parliament who had won their seats at the recent by-elections, and two women Members of Parliament appointed under the constitutional special measure to ensure Samoa’s parliamentary seats are at least 10% women.

 Maulolo Tavita Amosa secured the Sagaga 2 seat by 63 votes ahead of Faalogo Ivins Chan K Tong of FAST, while Aiono Tile Gafa secured the Aana Alofi 2 seat over FAST woman candidate Lolomatauama Eseta Faalata by just 19 votes.

The former Minister for Education Sports and Culture, Loau Keneti Sio, told the Samoa Observer April's election result and recent by-elections speak volumes and "the buck stops with the leaders".

The Human Rights Protection Party lost the election by one seat and has since lost four of six by-elections.

Loau said the party has to be honest with itself and the country and admit that the only option is for the party leaders to move on.

On Friday, the opposition HRPP Party was re-admitted to parliament and its members-elect sworn in, following a directive from the Supreme Court, for the Speaker to end a ban on the 18 members.

Former Prime Minister Tuilaepa, HRPP leader Sailele Tuilaepa Malielegaoi embraced his successor Fiame Naomi Mata’afa as her Cabinet Ministers and Members arrived for Friday's session of the House.

The brief session went on to see MPs from shaking hands and embracing, after a five month long political standoff.

The protestors marched to the Malae o Tiafau in Mulinuu calling for the Constitution to be upheld and the restoration of the powers of the Head of State.

Rain and gusty winds didn’t dampen the spirits of the protestors as they waved flags and carried placards during the march.

The party’s leader and former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi waited for his fellow Members of Parliament and supporters at Malae o Tiafau.

Fonotoe has been a Member of Parliament for the past 16 years.

He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Samoa after a by-election in 2005 and was subsequently re-elected at the 2006 general election.

The voting by secret ballot was carried out during a HRPP caucus meeting last week.

Fonotoe was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour from 2011 – 2016, but when he returned to Parliament in 2016, he was not reappointed as a Cabinet Minister.

The Faatuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi party leader, Fiame Naomi Mataafa, told reporters the number of seats her party has won in a media conference last night while the office of the Electoral Commission was still counting the preliminary results.

An independent candidate, Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio, who won the seat for Gaga'emauga number one is now the king maker for both parties to form a new government.

But FAST party leader said the process of negotiating with the independent candidate would be carried out soon.

After four days of pre-polling, the ruling Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) leads with 27 seats, Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) leads in 20 seats, and Tautua Samoa Party leads in one constituency.

There's a dead heat between HRPP and FAST in another constituency.

HRPP which has controlled Samoa for close to four decades, is facing its stiffest challenge yet from FAST.

Led by former HRPP deputy Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa, FAST looks set to cause major upsets.

It has a chance of taking control of the reins of power.

He told a radio audience this week that his party will garner no less than 45 of the 49 parliamentary seats on offer.

He said that means the opposition parties will not be able to carry out any proposed amendments to the constitution.

The opposition parties are campaigning on perceived nationwide opposition to recent constitutional changes.

The veteran MP said changing the constitution is not easy.

A two thirds majority or 34 votes is required to instigate any Constitutional changes.