Va'aelua Eti Alesana (died 30 September 2011) was a Samoan politician and opposition leader who served as a founding member and President of the Tautua Samoa Party in 2011. [1]
He was the son of former Prime Minister of Samoa, Tofilau Eti Alesana. [1] [2] His sister, Gatoloaifaana Amataga Alesana-Gidlow, has remained a member of the ruling Human Rights Protection Party. [3]
Alesana was elected President of the opposition Tautua Samoa Party in February 2011, a post he held until his death later in the year. [2] He opposed Prime Minister's Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi re-election bid in the March 2011 general election. [2] However, Malielegaoi's was returned to office in the election.
Va'aelua Eti Alesana died in Samoa on Friday, 30 September 2011. [1] [4] The leader of Tautua Samoa, Palusalue Fa’apo II, said that "We are really saddened by this. He has done so much for the party." [1] Alesana was buried in his native village of Lalomalava, Savai'i. [5] In his eulogy, Palusalue Fa’apo II told mourners, "Va'aelua always maintained a positive attitude and before the General Elections last March, he kept encouraging the Tautua Samoa members to stay positive, despite the odds being stacked against us." [5]
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Tofilau Eti Alesana, AC, born Aualamalefalelima Alesana was a Samoan politician who served as the fifth prime minister of Samoa from 1982 to 1985, and again from 1988 until his resignation in 1998.
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