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Tautua Samoa Party

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Tautua Samoa Party
LeaderPalusalue Fa’apo II
FoundedDecember 2008
IdeologyAgrarianism
Christian left
Political positionCentre-left
Legislative Assembly
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Tautua Samoa Party is a political party in Samoa. The party's policies include economic development, particularly in the agricultural sector, public service reform, a limit on the number of Associate Ministers, and a reduction in the term of Parliament from 5 to 3 or 4 years.[1] Its current leader is Palusalue Fa’apo II, following the leadership of Leatinu’u Salote Lesa.

Formation

The party was formed by 11 independent Members of Parliament in December 2008.[2] The party's founders described their aim as providing parliamentary opposition to the ruling Human Rights Protection Party.[3]

Under the Samoan Electoral Act, registering as members of a new party would have required Tautua Samoa's members to contest a by-election for their parliamentary seats. To avoid this, the party was initially registered under the Companies Act,[4] and its members remained listed as independents.[5] However, as such it was not an officially recognized party by the Parliament of Samoa. Samoa at times has had no official opposition parties, because of restrictive Parliamentary rules that control and constrain the formation of opposition parties.[6][7]

The party launched with no formal leader; its interim chair was Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi.[8] In January 2009, the Speaker of Parliament ordered Tautua Samoa to provide formal notice of its existence and membership.[9] The party formally identified itself, and nine Members of Parliament identified themselves as members. In May, Speaker Tolofuaivalelei Falemoe Lei'ataua revoked the parliamentary membership of all nine of the party's MPs, on the grounds that joining a part after being elected "breached the provisions of the Electoral Act and the parliament standing orders". Their expulsion from Parliament would prompt by-elections. Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi stated that he would seek an interim injunction against the Speaker's ruling.[10][11] The Supreme Court of Samoa cancelled the by-elections and reinstated the MPs, stating that the speaker's position was wrong and the party formation was legal.[12]

In March 2010, the Electoral Act was amended, forbidding any Member of Parliament from leaving his initial party while retaining his seat. Consequently, three members of the Tautua Samoa Party resigned from Parliament: party chairman Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, and former HRPP cabinet ministers Palusalue Fa’apo II and Va'ai Papu Vailupe. Their resignation will lead to by-elections in their constituencies: Vaisigano number one, Faleata west, and Safata territorial.[13] Only those three Members of Parliament resigned, because only they declared they were members of the party following its formal registration. Other MPs who had initially aligned themselves with the party are therefore not officially members.[14]

On 2 May 2010 Va'ai Papu Vailupe was elected unopposed in the Vaisigano by-election, becoming the first MP elected for the party.[15]

2011 election

In September 2010 the party announced that it had made an agreement with the Samoa Party and is negotiating with the People's Party for the latter to run their candidates under the Tautua banner.[1] Shortly thereafter, the leader of the Samoa Party, Feo Nemaia Esau, announced that his party had disbanded and merged into the Tautua Samoa Party. He explained that the merger would form a more "united opposition" to the ruling Human Rights Protection Party.[16]

Also in September 2010, founding member Mulipola Oliva asked to run as an HRPP candidate.[17]

In November, the party announced that it had reached an agreement with the United Samoa People's Party and several independent politicians to form an organisation, Tumua'i Tutusa, to campaign together for the election. The new group's chairman, Afualo Dr. Wood Salele, stated that the organisation would seek divine intervention, notably through a week of fasting and praying, to defeat the Human Rights Protection Party in the upcoming election.[18] In December, party president Papalii Tavita Moala resigned unexpectedly, and Afualo Dr. Woods Salele was chosen for the presidency in his place.[19]

In February 2011 at least three Tautua candidates were prevented from standing after village mayors refused to sign their nomination forms.[20][21]

Tautua Samoa Party President Va'aelua Eti Alesana, who was elected in February 2011, died on 4 October 2011.[22][23] On 11 November, Leatinu’u Salote Lesa became the party's president - the first woman to lead a political party in Samoa.[24]

Initial MPs

References

  1. ^ a b Aigaletaulele’a F. Tauafiafi (22 September 2010). "Tautua on the move". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  2. ^ Alan Ah Mu (17 December 2008). "Tautua Samoa officially launched". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 4 March 2009.
  3. ^ Jasmine Netzler (9 July 2008). "New party named Tautua Samoa". Samoa Observer.
  4. ^ "Samoan independents form party to be registered as company". Radio New Zealand International. 14 July 2008. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  5. ^ Pio Sioa (6 May 2008). "No Bi-Elections – Speaker". Samoa Alive Newsline. Retrieved 4 March 2009.
  6. ^ https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/eap/154400.htm 2010 Human Rights Report: Samoa, US State Department, April 8, 2011
  7. ^ Samoa’s government system regarding political participation, Pacific Women in Politics (PACWIP), April 18, 2011, originally published in the Samoan Observer newspaper.
  8. ^ Pio Sioa. "Tautua Samoa Party is now official". Samoa Alive Newsline. Retrieved 4 March 2009.
  9. ^ "Samoa's Parliamentary speaker orders new political party to declare caucus members". Radio New Zealand International. 25 January 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2009.
  10. ^ "By-elections to be called in Samoa for nine vacant parliamentary seats". Radio New Zealand International. 31 May 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  11. ^ "Change of heart forces new Samoa by-elections", ABC Radio Australia, 31 May 2009
  12. ^ "Samoa court reinstates nine MPs, cancels by-elections". Radio New Zealand International. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  13. ^ "By-elections to be called in Samoa following new amendments". Radio New Zealand International. 18 March 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  14. ^ "Va'ai springs election shock". Samoa Observer. 10 March 2010.
  15. ^ Alan Ah Mu (2 May 2010). "Fear tactic failed: Va'ai". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  16. ^ "Samoa Party disbands to join Tautua Samoa". Radio New Zealand International. 26 September 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  17. ^ Marieta Heidi Ilalio (27 September 2010). "MPs defect". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 28 September 2010.
  18. ^ "Samoa opposition politicians pray for success in 2011 general elections". Radio New Zealand International. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  19. ^ "Tautua Samoa party president quits". Radio New Zealand International. 7 December 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  20. ^ "Rival to Tuilaepa in Samoa election may not be able to stand". Radio New Zealand International. 10 February 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  21. ^ "More Tautua rejects". Samoa Observer. 12 February 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  22. ^ "Son of former Samoa leader now leading opposition party". Radio New Zealand International. 14 February 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  23. ^ "Tautua Samoa president dies". Radio New Zealand International. 4 October 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  24. ^ "Woman becomes President", Samoa Observer, 16 November 2011
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