comparemela.com

Page 7 - Lgiati News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

The uncharted waters of Samoa s 2021 election explained

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.

Double votes detected in Samoa election count

The Electoral Commissioner Faimalōmatumua Mathew Lemisio said they would face legal action. Double voting surfaced during the official count for Sagaga 2 constituency that started Tuesday and was put on hold as officials examined the double-voting issue. The Office said there were 39 instances of double voting. The Samoa Electoral Commission show votes being tallied during the general election in the capital city of Apia Photo: AFP or licensors It is suspected that those people voted in last Friday s election after casting their vote in the pre-polls that ran in the four days prior. Provisional results indicate the caretaker Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP is neck-and-neck with newcomer Fa atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi Party or FAST party on 25 seats each. An independent MP, Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio, has also won a seat, giving him the likely deciding vote.

Counting under way in tight Samoa election

Counting under way in tight Samoa election AFP 3 hrs ago AFP © Handout Counting is now underway in Samoa s general elections, with the long-ruling Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) facing its strongest challenge in nearly forty years More than 120,000 voters went to the polls to elect a new government in Samoa Friday, with the long-ruling Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) facing its strongest challenge in nearly forty years. The Samoa Electoral Commission expected to have a result by early Saturday in the small Pacific island nation, where voting is compulsory.  Advance voting in the past four days showed the HRPP, headed by longtime Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, holding 25 seats with the newly formed opposition FAST party on 21 in the 51-member parliament. 

Samoan diaspora seeks more political say

There are 500,000 Samoans living in New Zealand, the US, Australia and elsewhere, while just 200,000 in Samoa itself. Although there is no clear data on how many of the diaspora are Samoan citizens, there are concerns extended voting rights could dictate elections results. One who believes all Samoan citizens should have the right to participate in their country s democracy is Christchurch-based political scientist Christina La ala ai-Tausa. Samoans overseas contribute to 49 percent of Samoa s economy annually through remittances, said Dr La ala ai-Tausa. So it is timely for Samoans overseas to be able to vote given we contribute a lot to Samoa from our tautua (service) from overseas.

© 2025 Vimarsana

vimarsana © 2020. All Rights Reserved.