The Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa Ua Tasi Party has claimed 28 of the 51 seats in Parliament according to the preliminary results of Samoa’s general elections yesterday.
FAST Leader Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt is now set to be the next Prime Minister.
Caretaker Samoa United Party took a hammering retaining only three seats. Caretaker Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa won by a landslide in her constituency Lotofaga but Deputy PM Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio lost his seat along with several caretaker ministers. They include Finance Minister Lautimuia Uelese Vaai, Minister of Police Faualo Harry Schuster, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Toeolesulusulu Cedrick Schuster, Minister of Justice Matamua Vasati Pulufana, Minister of Agriculture Niuava Eti Malolo, Minister of Transport Olo Fiti Vaai and Minister of Health Valasi Tafito Selesele.
The other two SUP members cleared for Parliament are Faleomavaega Titimaea Tafua and Leatinuu Wayne Sooialo who ran unopposed.
The Human Rights Protection Party took a battering with a provisional count of 15 seats. Leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi easily won in his District of Lepa but was handed his second major defeat for the reigns of government in as many elections.
While election results were slowly trickling in celebrations broke out at the FAST headquarters early in the evening.
La’aulialiemalietoa said in a live broadcast on Facebook, “Tonight’s result is provisional and the final count is coming up next week but there is at least a clear choice shown by the voters tonight. It is up to us now, the political leaders of our people to put the effort together to restore harmony and peace in our society and community and focus on building and developing our beloved paradise Samoa.”
Among the first time politicians elected under the FAST banner are former Director General of Health Aiono Dr Alec Ekeroma and former Chief Executive Officer of Ministry of Agriculture, Tilafono David Hunter. They join party stalwart and first female Finance Minister Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molio’o and former Minister of Communication and Information Technology Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo and many other returning MPs. Former Speaker of Parliament Papalii Ta’eu Masipa’u did not win re-election.
The scene at the Petesa, Mulinu’u headquarters of the HRPP turned dark as supporters stumbled around grappling with the unwanted result and losing some seasoned politicians like Lautafi Purcell, Alai’asa Sepulona Moananu, Aliimalemanu Alofa Tu’uau and Sulamanaia Fetaia’i.
Laaulialemalietoa is expected to move quickly to form a government and name his Cabinet so they can get on with running the government and deal with legal challenges as they come.
One thing is clear though, with a strong mandate of 28 seats, La’auli and FAST are in the captain’s seat and face seemingly clear sailing ahead for the country.
Provisional final tally: FAST 28 seats, HRPP 15 seats, SUP 5 seats and Independents 3 seats.
