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Edict by Samoa s head of state calling for fresh elections is set to be challenged in the courts by a newcomer political party seeking to form government.
Samoans living in New Zealand say it’s a thrilling time for their homeland amid some major election twists and turns, with court challenges and a recent election declaration by the Pacific Island nation’s head of state. Māngere-Ōtahuhu Local Board member and lawyer Harry Fatu Toleafoa said it is an exciting time to be a Samoan as the election fiasco has provided the much-needed shake-up Samoa’s politics needed.
With the doors to the actual parliament locked to try to stop the transition of power, the FAST party and its leader, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, Samoa s first woman prime minister, were sworn in outside of parliament, in a marquee. For those who aren’t so sure about what’s going on in Samoa and the changes it brings about to its political scene and prime minister, let’s explain the basics.
BEC HANIFY-SEUMANU/Supplied Who has been the dominant political party? For 39 years, Samoa has had the same political party – the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) – in power, and the same leader since 1998.
The next step in attempting to resolve the political stalemate in Samoa will occur tomorrow in court.
The new FAST party, which has the same number of seats as the caretaker HRPP party, at 26, is seeking to have the Supreme Court overturn the appointment of a sixth woman to parliament.
Last week the Office of the Electoral Commission appointed Aliimalemanu Alofa Tuaau to ensure that at least ten percent of the parliament s seats are held by women.
But FAST claims in its motion to the court, that this is a misreading of the constitution.
Our correspondent in Samoa, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia, says the first action by the Supreme Court on Wednesday will be to decide on a strike out counter motion from the Attorney General s Office.