pn773. Samoa’s rightful government takes office at last Inbox

 The incumbent prime minister concedes defeat three and a half months after losing an election.

WELLINGTON - It took three and a half months and a constitutional crisis, but Samoa at last has its first change of governing party in 33 years, as well as its first female prime minister. On July 23rd the country’s court of appeal ruled that Fiame Naomi Mata’afa’s fast party, which narrowly won an election in April, was the legitimate government of Samoa, an island nation of 200,000 people 2,900 km north-east of New Zealand. The judges emphatically rejected the protracted efforts by Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, the outgoing prime minister, and the O le Ao o le Malo, Samoa’s head of state, to thwart the election outcome. On July 26th Mr Tuilaepa, at last, conceded defeat.

pn743. Patu calls for second Samoan election - and he could have a point

The former Chief Justice, Patu Falefatu Sapolu, stood and then withdrew from  HRPP (Human Rights Protection Party) election candidacy, so his impartiality could be in question. 

But with such a narrow two seat FAST (Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi party)  victory, the constitutional requirement for 10% female representation, and the flurry of appeals and counter appeals against constituency election results and possible by-elections (each of which could be challenged), his call for a second election makes sense.

Read what James Robertson wrote today in the Samoa Observer. James also provides a useful summary of the whole  election shemozzle**. -- ACW