2001 Samoan general election

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2001 Samoan general election
← 1996 2 March 2001 2006 →
All 49 seats in the Legislative Assembly
25 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
  Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi (cropped)1.jpg Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Tufuga Efi 00 (cropped).jpg
Leader Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi
Party HRPP SNDP
Leader since 23 November 1998 8 April 1988
Leader's seat Lepā Anoama'a East
Last election 24 seats, 43.5% 11 seats, 26.1%
Seats won 23 13
Seat change Decrease 1 Increase 2
Popular vote 34,262 17,966
Percentage 44.82% 23.50%
Swing Increase 1.28 pp Decrease 2.59 pp
Samoa Constituency borders (labelled en).png
Prime Minister before election

Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi
HRPP

Subsequent Prime Minister

Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi
HRPP

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General elections were held in Samoa on 2 March 2001.[1] Prime minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi led the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) into the election. Opposition leader and former prime minister and future head of state, Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi led the Samoan National Development Party (SNDP) into the election.[2] The HRPP won 23 seats, but initially fell short of a majority. The SNDP won 13 seats, the Samoan United People's Party secured one seat and the remaining 12 were won by independents. Following the election, all 12 independents joined the HRPP, giving the party a majority in parliament and allowing Tuila'epa to remain prime minister.[3][4]

Background[]

During the previous general election held in 1996, the Human Rights Protection Party won the most seats but fell short of a majority. The opposition Samoan National Development Party won 11 seats; the Samoa Liberal party secured a single seat, and independents won the remaining seats. The incumbent HRPP government remained in power due to the support of 10 independent MPs.[5]

Prior to the election, in 1998 prime minister and HRPP leader Tofilau Eti Alesana resigned due to ill health. Tofilau was succeeded by deputy prime minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, and died the following year.[6] Tofilau’s government changed the country’s name from ‘Western Samoa’ to ‘Samoa’ in 1997.[7]

Electoral system[]

Further information: Legislative Assembly of Samoa

During the time of the 2001 election, Samoa’s legislative assembly, the Fono, was composed of 49 seats, with each member serving a five year term. 47 of the 49 members of the Fono were elected through electoral constituencies, whilst the remaining were elected through independent voters. The nation uses the ‘First past the post’ electoral system.[3]

Only Matai (Chiefs) were permitted to contest any of the 47 constituencies, whilst the other two seats were open to all individuals. Universal suffrage was granted in 1991, permitting all individuals aged 21 and older to vote in the election.[8] The controversial Electoral Amendment act, which came into effect in 2000, required candidates to have resided in Samoa for at least three years to qualify as a candidate. Previously, the requirement was 12 months.[4] Once the final election results are confirmed, the leader of the majority party is appointed prime minister by the O le Ao o le Malo (head of state). The O le Ao o le Malo then appoints cabinet ministers on the advice of the prime minister.[3]

Campaign[]

A total of four parties contested the election: the HRPP, SNDP, the Samoan United People’s Party and the Samoa All People’s party.[4]

The HRPP campaigned on increasing foreign aid to improve the country’s infrastructure. The party also announced its intentions to boost the economy. Prime minister Tuila'epa claimed that the opposition SNDP could not provide a credible alternative to the HRPP and the Samoan people.[9]

The SNDP platform focused on reforming the government and ceasing corruption. Opposition leader Tui Ātua proposed that a special task force be established to end corruption within the government. He also blamed the HRPP administration for the mishandling of the state-owned Polynesian Airlines, which he claimed led to an increase in the nation’s debt.[9] The SNDP also denounced the government for a scandal revealed in 1997 involving the illegal sale of Samoan passports to citizens of China and Taiwan.[4] The party carried out weekly press conferences criticising the government.[9]

Tuila'epa predicted that the HRPP would retain power.[9]

Results[]

Samoa Fono 2001.svg
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Human Rights Protection Party34,26244.8223–1
Samoan National Development Party17,96623.5013+2
Samoan United People's Party[a]1,8982.481New
Samoa All People's Party100.010New
Independents22,31529.1912–1
Total76,451100.00490
Valid votes76,45199.53
Invalid/blank votes3600.47
Total votes76,811100.00
Source: Nohlen et al.

By constituency[]

Constituency Turnout Political party Candidate Votes %
A'ana Alofi No. 2 1,325 HRPP Tolofuaivalelei Falemoe Lei’atau 597 45.0
SNDP Paulo Leutele Tulilo 551 41.6
HRPP Sio Lalogafau 177 13.3
A'ana Alofi No. 3 1,645 Independent Fagafagamanuali’i Therese 525 31.9
Independent Faamatala Afamasaga 484 29.4
HRPP Fatu Vaili Afamasaga 309 18.8
Independent Tiaina Letelemaana 142 8.6
Independent Tafuna Valuniu 68 4.1
Independent Enele Toleafoa Taufono 65 3.9
SNDP Leleai Pulegato 30 1.8
SNDP Sakalia Ga 22 1.3
Aiga-i-le-tai 1,865 Independent Leva’a Sauaso 720 38.6
HRPP Lautolo Vaatiuola 660 35.4
SNDP Peni Leiataua 249 13.3
Independent Naotala Taimalelagi 229 12.3
Independent Pasi Papalii 7 0.4
Alatua West 1,865 SNDP Nonumalo Faiga 561 60.8
HRPP Velovaa Pei 362 39.2
Aleipata Itupa-I-Lalo 1,344 SNDP Su’a Atonio Lemi 651 48.4
HRPP Faaliga Utuga 359 26.7
Independent Tamatoa Letiu 187 13.9
Independent F. Tautualeau 104 7.7
Independent Lepueomanu Brown 43 3.2
Aleipata Itupa-I-Luga 1,354 HRPP Taua Kitiona Seuala 782 57.7
Independent Pierre Meredith Faaitamai 572 42.3
Anoama’a East 1,354 SNDP Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi 980 68.3
HRPP Savelio Fanualelei Savea 456 31.7
Anoama’a West 1,843 HRPP Tuala Tagaloa Sale Kerslake 717 38.9
SNDP Mateo Luafalealo Gaugau 510 27.7
Independent Sione Leiu 471 25.5
Independent Lene Misa 145 7.9
Fa’asaleleaga No. 2 1,979 HRPP Pa’u Sefo Pa’u 1,069 54.0
Independent Laki Leanapapa 910 46.0
Fa’asaleleaga No. 3 1,088 HRPP Unasa Mesi Galo 378 34.7
SNDP Peato Tea 277 25.4
Independent Ioelu Sua 274 25.2
HRPP Ese Sio Unasa 159 14.6
Fa’asaleleaga No. 4 994 HRPP Mulitalo Siafausa Vui 530 53.3
Independent Tupe Ioane Vui 429 43.1
Independent Viliamu Vui 35 3.5
Falelupo 1,214 SNDP A'eau Peniamina 613 50.5
HRPP Va'ai Papu Vailupe 601 49.5
Faleata West 1,161 HRPP Ulu Vaomalo Kini 668 57.5
SNDP Ituau Ale Leatogie 314 27.0
Independent Sio Mailo 179 15.4
Falelatai and Samatau 2,047 HRPP Misa Telefoni Retzlaff 1,256 61.3
Independent Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II 791 38.6
Gaga'emauga No. 1 1,714 HRPP Tuala Ainiu Iusitino 859 50.1
SNDP Tuala Falenaoti Tiresa 504 29.4
Independent Sala Vaimili II Uili I 277 16.2
Independent Tevaga Petelo 74 4.3
Gaga'emauga No. 2 1,090 HRPP Fa’aso’otauloa Pati Taulapapa 506 46.4
Independent Tau'ili'ili Pemerika 448 41.1
SNDP Tuisavai'i Faletao 89 8.2
Independent Va'aaoao Salumalo 47 4.3
Gaga'emauga No. 3 1,268 HRPP Leota Lu II 554 43.7
Independent Seuamuli Sapio To'oala 484 38.2
Independent Galuvao Koki Tiatia 230 18.1
Gaga'ifomauga No. 1 799 HRPP Ga'ina Tino 373 46.7
Independent Lavea Leitupo 248 31.0
SNDP Taito Mu'ese 178 22.3
Gaga'ifomauga No. 2 1,010 Independent Safuneitu'uga Pa'aga Neri 499 49.4
HRPP Feo Nemaia Esau 210 26.0
Independent Tu'u Ioane Tu'u 128 12.7
Independent Lao Sofai 120 11.9
Gaga'ifomauga No. 3 579 HRPP Vagana Pelei'upu Tamate 324 56.0
SNDP Matagi Tanumaga 255 44.0
Lefaga and Falese’ela 2,318 SNDP Le Mamea Ropati 1,021 44.0
HRPP Masinalupe Tusipa 717 30.9
HRPP Su'a Sulia 580 25.0
Lepā 551 HRPP Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi 463 84.0
SNDP Talaifono Liko Tagoai 88 16.0
Lotofaga 511 HRPP Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa 363 71.0
SNDP Fata Siaosi 138 27.0
Independent Seagaitumua Iulai Faitala 10 2.0
Palauli 1,525 HRPP Leituala Tone Tu'uaga 527 34.5
Independent Laga'aia Kuinise 519 34.0
SNDP Leleisi'uao Palemene 479 31.4
Palauli le Falefa 1,630 HRPP Faumuina Tiatia Liuga 523 32.1
Independent Laupu'a Sili 503 30.8
Independent Le Tagaloa Pita 404 24.8
HRPP Fiu Fa'apuna Kolia 200 12.3
Palauli West 1,571 Independent Tamala Uilisone 544 34.6
SNDP Tauavamea Lanu Palepoi 424 27.0
HRPP Lealaitafea Tau'ave 418 26.6
Independent Taulapapa Siaosi 185 11.8
Sagaga-Le-Falefa 1,735 SUPP Patea Satini Epati 1,064 61.3
HRPP Leatufale Roy Brunt 671 38.7
Sagaga-Le-Usoga 1,868 Independent Maulolo Tavita Amosa 814 43.6
HRPP Muagututagata Peter Ah Him 802 42.9
Independent Fata Uili Kapeni 185 9.9
Independent Tulasunu'i Ula'ese 67 3.6
Satupa'itea 1,145 Independent Asiata Sale'imoa Va'ai 583 50.9
HRPP Gafa Ioelu Elisaia 447 39.0
Independent Tavu'i Fa'amalu Tavu'i 115 10.0
Siumu 1,629 HRPP Tuu'u Anasi'i Leota 642 39.4
Independent Masiasomua Poufitu Fesili 464 28.5
SNDP Siaosi Tupuola 428 26.3
Independent Tapusalaia Fa'atonu 95 5.8
Va'a-o-Fonoti 1,638 SNDP Leao Talalelei 877 53.5
HRPP Moli'o Teofilo 738 45.0
Independent Vaipu'a Setu 23 1.4
Vaimauga East 2,063 Independent Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau 1,100 53.3
HRPP Leniu Avamagalo 963 46.7
Vaisigano No. 1 1,725 SNDP Masoe Filisi 797 46.2
HRPP Malolo Tui 728 42.2
Independent Tanielu Lealiifano 200 11.6
Vaisigano No. 2 851 SNDP Valasi Toogamaga Tafito 368 43.2
HRPP Lesaisaea Reupen Matafeo 365 42.9
Independent Fata Gafoaga 200 13.9
Source:[11]

Double member constituencies[]

Constituency Turnout Political party Candidate Votes %
A'ana Alofi No. 1 3,587 HRPP Toleafoa Apulu Fa'afisi 993 27.7
SNDP Apule Pepe Metai 760 21.2
HRPP Visekota Peteru Maiava 524 14.6
Independent Sanerivi Leaupepe 511 14.2
Independent Feausi Semaoa 412 11.5
Independent Aipovi Aiono Leofo 259 7.2
Independent Fanaafi Aiono 128 3.6
Fa'asaleleaga No. 1 4,111 Independent Tofilau Tauvaga 731 17.8
HRPP Seumanu Aita Ah Wa 704 17.1
HRPP S. Tatoi Tafa 669 16.3
HRPP Loimata H. Fiu 603 14.7
Independent Alapati Brown Sili 585 14.2
Independent Sualii Leauanae 339 8.2
Independent Semeli Tagaloasa 290 7.0
Independent A. Pauli 190 4.6
Falealili 5,916 SNDP Fuimaono Mimio 1,407 23.8
HRPP Tuiloma Pule Lameko 1,338 22.6
HRPP Faasopo Fuimaono 1,169 19.7
SNDP Esera Fuimaono 761 12.9
Independent Lafi Onesemo Soi 726 12.3
HRPP Punivalu Leilua 515 8.7
Safata 2,970 SNDP Suatele Manusegi Leota 917 30.9
HRPP Palusalue Fa’apo II 792 26.7
SNDP Falefa Misi Afemata 740 24.9
HRPP Eteuati Sagala Maugatai 521 17.5
Salega 3,373 Independent Tupua’i To’ese 955 28.3
SNDP Leilua Manuao 909 26.9
HRPP Faalii Aloaina Leilua 765 22.7
HRPP Alapati Tua Toomata 744 22.0
Vaimauga West 6,319 SNDP Sililoto Toto 1,400 22.1
Independent Ativalu Togi II Patu 1,210 19.1
HRPP Tiavolo Seumanutafa 1,138 18.0
HRPP Afa Lesa Matataualiitia 967 15.3
HRPP Keleso Tanifaolevao 836 13.2
Independent F. S. A. Lafau Tafilipepe 768 12.1
Individual voters 2,656 HRPP Hans Joachim Keil III 485 18.3
HRPP Chan Chui Vang Sun 426 16.0
Independent Tautulu Roebeck 402 15.1
Independent Elaine Silva 335 12.6
SNDP Nick Levy 322 12.1
SNDP Tautai Lei-Sam 321 12.1
Source:[11]

Uncontested[]

One candidate was elected unopposed:[11]

Constituency Candidate Party
Faleata East Faumuina Anapapa Independent

Aftermath[]

The incumbent HRPP government lost its majority in parliament, though following the election, the party retained power due to the support of independent MPs.[12] MP for Falelatai & Samatau and former Attorney-General Misa Telefoni Retzlaff was elected deputy leader of the HRPP, filling the vacancy present since Tuila'epa's ascension to the party leadership and post of prime minister in 1998.[13] In addition, Misa was appointed deputy prime minister, a position that had also been vacant since Tuila'epa became prime minister.[14] Tuila'epa expressed that the appointment undercut rumours that Misa intended to leave the HRPP and form a new opposition party.[13] Five cabinet ministers lost reelection.[14]

Following the election, the opposition SNDP demanded a second recount in 20 constituencies. They claimed that the initial vote tally and the original recount were flawed.[15][16] Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi resigned as leader of both the opposition and the SNDP. Le Mamea Ropati MP for Lefaga & Falese'ela replaced him.[14][17]

The O le Ao o le Malo, Malietoa Tanumafili II, officially opened the 13th parliamentary session on 19 March 2001.[14]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Parties in parliament are required to have at least 8 seats in order to attain recognition. Because the SUPP fell short of this quota, the party's sole MP was classified as an independent.[10]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p782 ISBN 0-19-924959-8
  2. ^ "TUILAEPA AND TUIATUA RE-ELECTED IN SAMOA ELECTION". Pacific Islands Report. 4 March 2001. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Election Guide". Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "SAMOA Parliamentary Chamber: Fono - Legislative Assembly". IPU. Archived from the original on 17 February 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  5. ^ "General Elections 1991, 1996 & 2001 Report" (PDF). Samoan Chief Electoral Officer. 27 November 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 October 2006. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  6. ^ "SAMOA'S TOFILAU DIES". Pacific Islands Report. 22 March 1999. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  7. ^ "AMERICAN SAMOA CONCERN OVER WESTERN SAMOA'S NAME CHANGE TO SAMOA". Pacific Islands Report. 31 July 1997. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  8. ^ "REGIME CHANGE AND REGIME MAINTENANCE IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC" (PDF). Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d "Samoans Gearing Up for Friday Election". Pacific Islands Report. 1 March 2001. Archived from the original on 27 September 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  10. ^ "General Elections 1991, 1996 & 2001 Report" (PDF). Samoan Chief Electoral Officer. 27 November 2003. p. 50. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 October 2006. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  11. ^ a b c Adam Carr. "Parliamentary Elections of 2001". psephos.adam-car.net. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  12. ^ "HRPP Reclaims Control of Samoa Government, Tuilaepa Still Prime Minister". Pacific Islands Report. 16 March 2001. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Samoa's Tuilaepa Returns as HRPP Leader; Misa Elected Deputy Leader". Pacific Islands Report. 14 March 2001. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  14. ^ a b c d "Misa becomes new Minister of Finance". Samoa Observer. 20 March 2001. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020.
  15. ^ "Samoa Opposition Allegdes Foul Play in Election Vote Recount". Pacific Islands Report. 16 March 2001. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  16. ^ "Samoa Oppostion Claims Voting Irregularities". Pacific Islands Report. 15 March 2021. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  17. ^ "Now Another Opposition Leader in Samoa". Pacific Islands Report. 21 March 2001. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
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