Preliminary results showed a tie between the HRPP and FAST, with each winning 25 seats in the Legislative Assembly.[6][7] This was confirmed in the final count.[8] However, the Samoan electoral commission subsequently determined that, with women comprising 9.8 percent of the elected members, the results did not fulfil a constitutional provision which required that at least 10 percent of seats be held by women. As a result, an additional female candidate – Ali'imalemanu Alofa Tuuau of the HRPP – was declared elected, increasing the parliament's membership to 52 and the HRPP's seat total to 26. Following this, Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio, an independent member, announced that he would side with FAST, creating a hung parliament with both the HRPP and FAST holding 26 seats.[9]
However, on 17 May 2021, the Supreme Court of Samoa overturned the decision of the electoral commission, cancelling the additional seat, and ruling against Tuilaepa's request for a new election.[10] This gave FAST a slim majority, allowing them to declare victory and select Mataʻafa as Samoa's first female prime minister.[10]
The HRPP secured a landslide victory in the 2016 election winning 35 of the (then) 49 seats in the Legislative Assembly.[11] 12 of the 13 successful Independent candidates in parliament subsequently joined the HRPP, bringing the party's seat total to 47. This prevented Tautua Samoa, who only retained two seats (down from 13 from the 2011 election), from obtaining the eight seats required for recognition as a parliamentary party,[12] therefore leaving Samoa without an official opposition.[13] An extra seat was added in parliament to comply with the gender quota.[12] An independent MP, Olo Fiti Vaai joined Tautua Samoa, giving the party three seats.[14]
The incumbent HRPP government was under criticism for its mishandling of the 2019 Samoa measles outbreak.[15] In May 2020, MP Laauli Leuatea Polataivao was expelled from the HRPP after voting against the controversial ‘Land and Titles’ amendment bill.[16] Polataivao announced that he had resigned and later formed the FAST party to contest the 2021 general election.[17] His departure from the HRPP was later followed by other members of the HRPP caucus including Naomi Mata'afa, who resigned as deputy prime minister, also in protest of the Land and Titles bill.[18] In August 2020, Polataivao successfully contested the by election in his constituency of Gagaifomauga No. 3, and was re-elected to parliament as the FAST party's sole MP.[19] Naomi Mata’afa, who was invited to join FAST upon her resignation from the HRPP, opted to remain an Independent.[20] She would not join FAST until after the dissolution of parliament.[21] At the dissolution of the 16th Parliament the HRPP occupied 44 seats, Tautua had two seats, FAST had one and the remaining three were held by Independents.[22]
Electoral system
The 2021 elections saw 51 members of the Fono elected from single-member constituencies by first-past-the-post voting.[23]Universal suffrage was introduced in 1990, permitting Samoan citizens over the age of 21 to vote in person. Candidates were required to be at least 21 years of age, heads of their families and resident of the country for at least three years prior the nomination date. Civil servants and people with mental illness were ineligible to stand as candidates. People convicted for bribery or an electoral offence, and people given a prison sentence of more than two years (including the death sentence), were also ineligible.[24]
The Constitution Amendment Act 2013 ensures a minimum of 10 per cent of seats in parliament are reserved for women.[23][25]
200 candidates were nominated for the election:[29] After electoral challenges were heard, the number dropped to 198: 113 for the HRPP, 50 for FAST, 14 for Tautua Samoa, 5 for Samoa First, 1 for Sovereign Independent Samoa, and 15 Independents.[30] A record 21 women stood for office.[31] Three candidates, Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi, FAST leader Naomi Mata'afa, and cabinet minister Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi were elected unopposed.[32]
On 2 September 2020, the FAST party announced it would join forces with the Samoa National Democratic Party and Tumua ma Puleono parties to contest the 2021 election.[33] SNDP and Tumua ma Puleono candidates will run under the FAST banner, with only one candidate in each constituency.[34] In January 2021 the party began an "election roadshow",[35] which Prime Minister Tuilaepa denounced the roadshow as a "foreign practice",[36] and encouraged his supporters to gatecrash FAST events to counter the party's "brainwashing".[37] On 29 January, FAST revealed that it had begun talks with the Tautua Samoa Party to form a grand coalition to oust the government.[38] FAST MPs were frequently absent from parliament during its final sitting to campaign,[39] resulting in threats to discipline them from the Deputy Speaker.[40] On the final day of parliament on 3 March, Prime Minister Malielegaoi ordered a commission of inquiry to investigate the MP's absences, as well as unspecified "treasonous acts" related to campaign speeches.[41][42] Following feedback from the roadshow the party formally launched its manifesto in late March, just weeks before the poll.[43]
The HRPP began its campaign just three weeks before the election date, with a manifesto launch on 19 March.[44] The party promised a new hospital in Salelologa as well as new standalone ministries of culture and the environment.[45]
The Tautua Samoa Party released its manifesto in September 2020, promising increased pensions, a higher minimum wage, and an anti-corruption body.[46] On 11 December 2020 the party announced an electoral alliance with the Samoa First Party and Sovereign Independent Samoa Party, under which the parties will support each other's candidates in seats where they are not running against one another.[47] On 29 January 2021 the alliance launched its manifesto.[48]
On 26 March 2021, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi predicted that the HRPP would win the election and increase its seats in Parliament to 45.[22]
Conduct
The election date was announced in April 2020.[49][26]
On 13 February 2021, the Electoral Commissioner warned village councils not to interfere with voting rights.[50]
Parliament was dissolved on 3 March 2021,[2] and the writ for the election was issued on 9 March 2021.[51]
Early voting for senior citizens, disabled voters, essential workers and those travelling on election day began on 5 April, with the results published each evening.[52] According to the electoral commission 7,414 voters cast an early vote.[53] Pre-polling results showed the HRPP leading in 27 seats, FAST in 20, and Tautua in one.[1] On election day polls opened at 8am and closed at 3pm.[54]
39 cases of double voting were detected in the formal count of the Sagaga 2 constituency and referred to police.[55]
Results
Final results showed FAST with 25 seats and the HRPP being reduced to 25 seats.[8] Five women were elected.[6] Negotiations began immediately to win over independent Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio,[56] and on 21 April it was announced that he would join the FAST party.[57][58][59]
On 20 April 2021, the Samoan electoral commission declared the HRPP's Ali'imalemanu Alofa Tuuau elected due to the requirement that a minimum of 10% of seats in parliament must be held by women.[63] The decision was challenged in court by FAST.[64] On 21 April independent Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio announced he would join FAST, creating a 26–26 deadlock. On 23 April, the Tautua Samoa Party called for a fresh election to resolve the deadlock.[65] On 25 April, legislative clerk Tiatia Graeme Tualaulelei said that the opening of parliament would be delayed until election petitions had been resolved.[66] On 4 May the leaders of HRPP and FAST met with O le Ao o le Malo (Head of State) Tuimalealiifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II to discuss the possibility of a second election to break the deadlock.[67] The FAST Party opposed new elections, saying that court cases and electoral petitions should be resolved first.[68] On the evening of 4 May, the O le Ao o le Malo purported to dissolve Parliament and ordered new elections for 21 May.[69][70] A writ for the new election was issued on 5 May 2021.[71] The dissolution was welcomed by the Tautua Samoa Party,[72] but denounced as unlawful by FAST,[73] and as "unconstitutional"[74] and a "coup".[75][76]
The FAST Party began court proceedings to challenge the dissolution.[77][78][79] The case was heard on 14 May, and a decision was made on 17 May, with a decision on Tuuau's seat delivered the same day.[80][81] The challenge was successful. Electoral petitions will be heard from 24 May.[82]
On 17 May, the Supreme Court of Samoa overturned Tuuau's appointment, giving FAST a 26–25 majority in Parliament.[83][84][85] Shortly afterwards they overturned the voiding of election results and calling of a new election as having no legal authority. They upheld the April results and ordered parliament to meet within 45 days of the original poll.[86][87] Prime Minister Malielegaoi said both decisions would be appealed.[88]
On 18 May 2021, Naomi Mata'afa and representatives of the FAST Party met with the O le Ao o le Malo (Head of State) to confirm they had the support of 26 MPs and deliver the names of their nominees for Speaker and Deputy Speaker.[89] Prime Minister Malielegaoi said that his caretaker government would remain in power until all election-related court cases are resolved.[90]
On 19 May, the O le Ao o le Malo agreed to convene the new Parliament.[91][92] On 21 May, the Court of Appeal of Samoa declined to stay the Supreme Court's ruling over Tuuau's appointment, confirming FAST's parliamentary majority.[93] Immediately after the ruling, the O le Ao o le Malo issued a proclamation convening the opening of the new Parliament on 24 May.[94][95] That same day, an attempt by the Attorney-General to have the writ overturned was rejected by the Supreme Court.[96] In doing so, the Court ruled that "the ruling of the Supreme Court represents the law in Samoa, and it should be followed. Failure to abide by the law has its own consequences".[96]
On 22 May 2021, the O le Ao o le Malo suspended the proclamation until further notice and did not elaborate on the reasons behind the suspension but that the said reasons will be known in 'due course',[97][98] triggering the 2021 Samoan constitutional crisis.[99][100] FAST leader Naomi Mataʻafa denounced the suspension as a coup, and announced plans to challenge it in court.[101] On 23 May the Supreme Court met in chambers to hear a motion to overturn the suspension.[102] That afternoon, they ruled the decision was unlawful and that the proclamation convening parliament for 24 May continued to stand.[103][104] Prime Minister Malielegaoi responded by saying that the court order was illegal, that the judges had breached State of Emergency regulations and ought to be charged, and that he and members of the HRPP would refuse to be sworn in when parliament convened.[105] Later that evening, Speaker of the House Leaupepe Toleafoa Faafisi purported to cancel the swearing-in ceremony, in contravention of the court's order.[106][107][108][109]
On the morning of 24 May, FAST MPs and supporters arrived at Parliament to find police surrounding the building and the doors locked.[110] The Clerk of parliament refused them entry, in obedience to Faafisi's order. Naomi Mata’afa said that MPs would wait for the head of state, and convene parliament on the front steps if necessary.[111][112][113] Later that afternoon FAST Party MPs and Ministers were sworn in in a tent outside parliament.[114][115][116] Former Prime Minister Tuilaepa responded by accusing the FAST Party of "treason".[117][118] That evening, the Federated States of Micronesia became the first government to recognise the new government and Naomi Mata’afa as the legitimate prime minister.[119][120] This was followed by Palau which on 27 May, became the second foreign government to recognise the legitimacy of Mata’afa's administration.[121]
On 25 May the HRPP launched a private prosecution against Mata’afa and three other FAST MPs for alleged bribery and treating. The case will be heard in September 2021.[122]
Fiame Naomi Mataʻafa is a Samoan politician and chieftainess (matai) who is serving as the leader of the Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party. Since 24 May 2021, she has been one of the two rival claimants to the office of Prime Minister of Samoa, along with Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi. She was Samoa's first female Cabinet Minister, and from 2016 to 2020 served as Samoa's first female Deputy Prime Minister. She is a former member of the Human Rights Protection Party.
La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt is a Samoan politician, Cabinet Minister, and former speaker and deputy speaker of the Samoan Parliament. He is the Member of Parliament for the Gagaifomauga No. 3 constituency and is the current deputy leader of the Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) party.
The Tautua Samoa Party is a political party in Samoa. The party's policies include economic development, particularly in the agricultural sector, public service reform, a limit on the number of Associate Ministers, and a reduction in the term of Parliament from 5 to 3 or 4 years. Its current leader is Afualo Wood Salele, following the leaderships of Palusalue Fa’apo II and Leatinu’u Salote Lesa.
Tolofuaivalelei Falemoe Leiʻataua is a Samoan politician and former Cabinet Minister. He served as Speaker of the Samoan Legislative Assembly from 2006-2011. He was a member of the Human Rights Protection Party.
Faumuina Tiatia Faaolatane Liuga is a Samoan politician and former Cabinet Minister. He is a member of the Human Rights Protection Party.
General elections were held in Samoa on 4 March 2016. The main contesting parties were that of incumbent Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP); and the Tautua Samoa Party (TSP). The HRPP secured a landslide victory, winning 35 of the 49 elected seats in the Legislative Assembly, while 12 independents subsequently joined them, strengthening Samoa's one-party rule and preventing the TSP from obtaining the eight seats required for recognition as a parliamentary party.
Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Eti Sualauvi II is a Samoan politician who is the current O le Ao o le Malo of Samoa, in office since 2017. He was appointed to the Tama-a-ʻaiga title of Tuimalealiʻifano in July 1977, one of four paramount titles of Samoa.
Satiu Simativa Perese is a Samoan judge. He has served as the Chief Justice of Samoa since 12 June 2020.
Leatinuu Faumuina Asi Pauli Wayne Fong is a Samoan politician and Cabinet Minister.
Tumua ma Puleono is a political party in Samoa. The party is named for the traditional honorifics of Upolu and Savaii, the two main islands of Samoa. Its secretary is John Peterson.
Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi is a political party in Samoa. It was founded by MP Laauli Leuatea Polataivao and is currently led by MP Fiame Naomi Mataʻafa.
Ili Setefano Taʻateo Tafili is a Samoan politician and matai. He is a member of the Tautua Samoa Party.
The Land and Titles Bill is one of three bills passed by the Legislative Assembly of Samoa to reform the legal framework around the Land and Titles Court of Samoa and Samoan customary law. The bills are viewed by some as undermining human rights and the rule of law, and are the subject of significant controversy in Samoa.
Olo Fiti Afoa Vaai is a Samoan politician and Cabinet Minister.
Afioga Faaolesa Katopau Ainu’u is a Samoan politician and Cabinet Minister. He is a member of the Human Rights Protection Party.
Leaupepe Toleafoa Apulu Faafisi is a Samoan politician. He has served as a Cabinet Minister and as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa. He is a member of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP).
Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio is a Samoan politician and matai.
General elections were due to be held in Samoa on 21 May 2021. They were called by O le Ao o le Malo Tuimalealiifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II following the inconclusive results of the April 2021 election, but before the new parliament had even been convened or numerous electoral court petitions settled.
A constitutional crisis began in Samoa on 22 May 2021 when O le Ao o le Malo Tuimalealiifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II issued a proclamation purporting to prevent the Legislative Assembly from meeting in the wake of the general election in April. Court rulings had upheld the election results, giving a parliamentary majority to the Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party, led by Naomi Mataʻafa. On 24 May, a makeshift ceremony was held outside of parliament to swear in Mata'afa as prime minister.
↑ Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (22 May 2021). "Head of State suspends Parliament". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 22 May 2021. Samoa has been thrown into a constitutional crisis
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
