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Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Samoa General Election: 187 Candidates Vying For 50 Seats
Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai, RNZ Pacific journalist Samoa's election chief has confirmed that 187 candidates will contest this month's general election, with six political parties and independents vying for seats. The governing FAST Party leads the field with 58 candidates, an increase compared to the 2021 general election when it had 50. Following FAST is the opposition HRPP with 50 candidates, a drop in numbers compared to the previous election, when they had 106, according to the General Election 2021 report. The Samoa United Party has 26 candidates, while the Samoa Labour Party has five. Two smaller parties - Tumua ma Pule Republican Reform Party and Constitutional Democratic Republic Party - will each contest one seat. This brings the total number of parties contesting this election to six, alongside 46 independents candidates. Prior to the updated list of candidates released over the weekend, Samoan electoral commissioner Toleafoa Tuiafelolo Alexander Stanley told RNZ Pacific there were 190 candidates, slightly up from the 187 who ran in 2021. "By the close of the general election in 2021, there were 187 candidates. One candidate has withdrawn so far, so we have got 190 now," Toleafoa said. After Supreme Court decisions on disputed nominations, and after the official candidate withdrawal period closed, Toleafoa has issued a revised roll of contenders for the upcoming election, bringing the total to 187. In total, there are 51 constituencies, meaning 51 seats need to be filled. However, only 50 seats will be contested on polling day, as one constituency is uncontested. That seat has already been decided, as only Leatinu'u Wayne So'oialo remains the sole candidate for Faleata 2. It is the only uncontested seat for the upcoming general election, after the courts ruled that two other nominees were ineligible to run in the Faleata 2 constituency. Polling day is on 29 August.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Samoa general election: 187 candidates vying for 50 seats
The Samoa Electoral Commission show votes being tallied during the 2021 general election in Apia. Photo: AFP or licensors Samoa's election chief has confirmed that 187 candidates will contest this month's general election, with six political parties and independents vying for seats. The governing FAST Party leads the field with 58 candidates, an increase compared to the 2021 general election when it had 50. Following FAST is the opposition HRPP with 50 candidates, a drop in numbers compared to the previous election, when they had 106, according to the General Election 2021 report. The Samoa United Party has 26 candidates, while the Samoa Labour Party has five. Two smaller parties - Tumua ma Pule Republican Reform Party and Constitutional Democratic Republic Party - will each contest one seat. This brings the total number of parties contesting this election to six, alongside 46 independents candidates. FAST's La'auli Leuatea Polataivao, SUP's Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, and HRPP's Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi. Photo: RNZ Pacific / FAST Party / Samoa Uniting Party / HRPP Prior to the updated list of candidates released over the weekend, Samoan electoral commissioner Toleafoa Tuiafelolo Alexander Stanley told RNZ Pacific there were 190 candidates, slightly up from the 187 who ran in 2021. "By the close of the general election in 2021, there were 187 candidates. One candidate has withdrawn so far, so we have got 190 now," Toleafoa said. After Supreme Court decisions on disputed nominations, and after the official candidate withdrawal period closed, Toleafoa has issued a revised roll of contenders for the upcoming election, bringing the total to 187. In total, there are 51 constituencies, meaning 51 seats need to be filled. However, only 50 seats will be contested on polling day, as one constituency is uncontested. That seat has already been decided, as only Leatinu'u Wayne So'oialo remains the sole candidate for Faleata 2. It is the only uncontested seat for the upcoming general election, after the courts ruled that two other nominees were ineligible to run in the Faleata 2 constituency. Polling day is on 29 August.
Scoop
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Pacific News In Brief For 6 August
Samoa - politics Samoa's caretaker Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa has filed a police complaint against FAST Party chairman La'auli Leuatea Schmidt. It follows public claims by La'auli in Savai'i, accusing Fiame of being involved in recent deaths. Fiame said the allegations are already discredited and politically motivated and damaging. The Samoa Observer reported police have confirmed the complaint and say the case is now with the Attorney General. Fiame said she took legal action to protect the integrity of the Prime Minister's office. Bougainville - election The Bougainville Electoral Commission has launched a phone service to allow voters to confirm they are on the electoral roll. The SMS roll verification and polling place look-up service will be available until 30 August. Voting is on 4 September. This new service is in addition to the display of the Preliminary Electoral Roll in every ward throughout Bougainville. The Electoral Commissioner, Desmon Tsianai said everyone is encouraged to make use of this service. Solomon Islands - tribute The Solomon Islands parliament has paid tribute to the shortest serving prime minister, Snyder Rini. Local media reported prime minister Jeremiah Manele announced the death of the 77-year-old in Parliment on Tuesday. He was elected into parliament in 1997. In April 2006, he was elected as prime minister. Prime Minister Jeremaiah Manele said despite the challenge he faced, he worked hard to seek peace and stability in the country. Guam - broadcaster After almost 60 years Guam's Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is shutting up shop. Local media reported it's set to wind down operations after the US Congress cut some US$1.1 billion in funding that had been earmarked for the next two years. CPB president and CEO Patricia Harrison said despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who called, wrote and petitioned Congress to preserve federal funding for CPB, they are closing operations. President Donald Trump and Republican supporters have argued against continuing to fund public broadcasting, charging that its news coverage maintains an anti-right bias. CPB is a private, non-profit corporation authorized by Guam's Congress in 1967. New Zealand/Fiji - car crash Auckland's Fijian Indian community has been mourning the loss of a man killed in a car crash near Auckland Airport last week. 1News reported the man was 45-year-old Arvind Kumar. His wife was injured in the crash. Kumar had migrated to New Zealand from Fiji just over two years ago. A small service was held at Auckland's Middlemore Hospital before Kumar's body was flown back to Fiji. His wife was able to attend despite being bedridden. More than 600 people attended his funeral service in Fiji.
RNZ News
29-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Fresh faces join political veterans in Samoa's 2025 election race
Ballot boxes for the 2021 elections. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Tipi Autagavaia With less than nine weeks left until Samoa's early election, several senior public servants are throwing their hats in the ring. One of the higher profile nominees so far is Aiono Dr Alec Ekeroma, the director general and chief executive of the Ministry of Health in Samoa. In a recent statement, the Ministry of Health announced Aiono had submitted his resignation effective 30 June in order to contest Samoa's general election on August 29. It comes six months before the end of his three-year contract. He assumed the role in 2022 having previously held the position of Vice Chancellor at the National University of Samoa. The statement said Aiono had intended to serve out his full contract but the early date for the national election, orginally scheduled to take place next year, prompted his premature departure. Aiono, who submitted his four weeks' notice on the 30th of May, said he leaves with a heavy heart but has confidence in the team's capability. He said he will be standing under the FAST banner. Aiono Dr Alec Ekeroma (file image) Photo: RNZ Pacific / Tipi Autagavaia "Sometimes you push and push, but certain things don't get done, so I thought that I will throw my hat in the ring and try to push from a different angle," Aiono Dr Alec Ekeroma said. "And hopefully, when I'm in parliament and I can have the influence to get things done and make things happen and then some of the projects and programs that we're looking at could actually move a little bit faster." Aiono said he chose to run under the banner of the FAST because there is strong support for the party in his electorate. "My electorate as you know its a HRPP electorate for the past two, three, four, five parliament sessions. But I've decided really that there's an incumbent in the HRPP (Human Rights Protection Party) seat and therefore I thought of running for the FAST party," he said. Aiono had faced some criticism online since making his intention to contest in the election public. Some of the critics even questioned his eligibility to contest alleging he had not lived in Samoa for the past three years consecutively which is a requirement under the electoral act . Aiono insists he is eligible. "I am eligible, I've checked all the requirements, I've looked up my passport because I need to have the time in the country which is three years, and they've all checked out." "It's something all candidates will have to do (to prove) I don't know why this Journalist targeted me, but we and I need to remember that when we post something online we still represent the profession." Aiono said. Joining Aiono is High-profile public servant Land and Titles Court Judge Faumuina Leilua Opapo Soani who is awaits a warrant from head of state Tuimalealiifano Va'aleto'a Sualauvi II. Speaking to local media last week he said he was waiting on approval from the head of state. "We are under a special Commission under the Ministry of Justice and we will wait for a warrant from the Head of State to make our resignations official as LTC Judges,." "The deadline for nominees is on July 12, and by that time, the warrant should be issued by the Head of State," said Faumuina who is one of at least two nominees from the judiciary reported to be entering the election race. Under the HRPP (Human Rights Protection Party), Tiatia Graeme Tualaulelei, a well-known public figure, who last served as the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly. He was terminated in 2021 by the Speaker of the House, Papalii Li'o Ta'eu Masipa'u who provided no details of the grounds for his suspension at the time. Tiatia addressed local media at the HRPP headquarters, following an introduction by his village council and supporters. He expressed his desire to seize this opportunity to serve his constituency. "I will make sure to voice the concerns and the needs of these people in parliament," Tiatia said. "These developments include health, education, employment opportunities for youth and better roads." Tiatia is competing for the Vaimauga No.4 seat against caretaker Minister of Police, Faualo Harry Schuster, and former Minister of Justice Faaolasa Katopau Ainu'u. Faaolasa, is intending to contest under the newly established Samoa Labour Party campaigning on economic reform and welfare of families. Party secretary Su'a Tanielu Su'a told local media at a recent launch event 14 individuals are interested in running under the SLP banner. Faaolasa Katopau Ainu'u said they decided to create their own party because they felt the Human Rights Protection Party no longer needed them. "That is the decision from the HRPP executive to pick their candidates, and I don't think we are needed there anymore and believe they will be in a much better boat with someone else." said Faaolesa. A break away faction of the FAST Party led by care taker prime minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa have also set up a new party called Samoa Uniting Party. Its membership at creation consisted of 14 breakaway FAST MPs and a former HRPP candidate Maulolo Tavita Amosa. Speaking at the SUP party launch Caretaker Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa said out of tragedy something new and important has been born. "Let us talk about now and not remain in the past, but the situation on where we stand and our duties in cabinet remain, it is the door as to why we are here through our constituencies. "The 15 of us, 14 Ministers and 1 Faleomavaega [a former minister] who did the right thing due to an incident and resigned. "The question is why do we want this party? The answer is a no brainer, we want to keep on the work we promised we would do from the dissolution, due to the budget failing of to pass. According to the Samoa Electoral Act in order to be eligible to run as a candidate in the election a person has to be a citizen of Samoa, a registered voter and hold a Matai title registered before lodgement day. They also have to have lived in Samoa for three consecutive years up to lodgement day (this is the day a person lodges their nomination paper). Another unique requirement is the person has to have rendered Monotaga - which is defined as services to a village within the constituency they are intending to run as a candidate for. A person is disqualified from contesting if they do not meet the above requirements. And also if they have been convicted, in Samoa or any other country within the previous eight years, of an offence punishable by death or imprisonment for a term of four years or more. According to the Samoa Electoral Commission Office there are seven political parties registered to contest the 29 August election. In alphabetical order they are: Left to right: FAST Party chairman La'auli Leuatea Schmidt, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, opposition leader Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi. Photo: RNZ Pacific/123RF/Samoa Government/FAST Party The political turmoil in the country began in January, leading Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa to confront two votes of no confidence; the first occurred on February 25, followed by the second on March 6. Last month, she admitted defeat when her government's budget was rejected finally opting to dissolve parliament. The Parliament was officially dissolved on June 3, and as of last week, dates were officially confirmed for the upcoming elections. A pre-polling day for the elections will be on the 27 August, with the elections to follow on 29 August. The electoral roll will close on 4 July, with voter registrations needing to be completed by 3 July. All candidate nominations will close between the 7 and 12 of July.
RNZ News
03-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Samoa parliament formally dissolved after months of uncertainty
Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa on the floor of parliament, 21 January, 2025 Photo: Parliament of Samoa Samoa's parliament has been formally dissolved, and an early election is set to take place within three months. After months of political instability and two motions of no confidence, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa said she would call for the dissolution of parliament if Cabinet did not support her government's budget. MPs from both the opposition Human Rights Protection Party and Fiame's former FAST party joined forces to defeat the budget with the final vote coming in 34 against, 16 in support and 2 abstentions. Fiame went to the Head of State and advised him to dissolve parliament, and her advice was accepted. This all came from a period of political turmoil that kicked off shortly after New Year's. A split in the FAST Party in January saw Fiame remove FAST Party chairman La'auli Leuatea Schmidt and several FAST ministers from her Cabinet. In turn, he ejected her from FAST, leaving her leading a minority government. Earlier this year, over a two-week period, Fiame and her minority government defeated two back-to-back leadership challenges. On 25 February, with La'auli's help, she defeated a no-confidence vote moved by Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, 34 votes to 15. Then on 6 March, this time with Tuilaepa's help, she defeated a challenge mounted by La'auli, 32 votes to 19. Parliament now enters caretaker mode, until the election and the formation of a new government. Samoa's Electoral Commissioner said his office has filed an affidavit to the Supreme Court , seeking legal direction and extra time to complete the electoral roll ahead of an early election. A hearing on this is set to be held on Wednesday.
