2016 Samoan general election
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All 49 seats in the Legislative Assembly (plus additional seats to meet quota of female MPs) 26 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2016 Samoan electorate boundaries | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Constitution |
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General elections were held in Samoa on 4 March 2016. The main contesting parties were that of incumbent Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP); and the Tautua Samoa Party (TSP). The HRPP secured a landslide victory, winning 35 of the 49 elected seats in the Legislative Assembly, while 12 independents subsequently joined them, strengthening Samoa's one-party rule and preventing the TSP from obtaining the eight seats required for recognition as a parliamentary party.
Electoral system[]
The 49 members of the Fono were elected from 49 single-member constituencies. All seats were elected using first-past-the-post voting. Universal suffrage was introduced in 1990, permitting Samoan citizens over the age of 21 to vote in person. Candidates were required to be at least 21 years of age, heads of their families and resident of the country for at least three years prior the nomination date. Civil servants and people with mental illness were ineligible to stand as candidates. People convicted for bribery or an electoral offense, and people given a prison sentence of more than two years (including the death sentence), were also ineligible.[1] Around 116,000 electors were registered for the election.[2]
The Constitution Amendment Act 2013 ensures a minimum of 10 per cent of seats in parliament were reserved for women.[3]
Campaign[]
A total of 164 candidates (24 women) contested the elections: 83 from HRPP, 23 from TSP and 60 independents. Four candidates including the prime minister and caretaker Minister of Justice, Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, were elected unopposed. predicted that the ruling party would win the elections.[4]
Conduct[]
Voting commenced at 8am (UTC+14:00) and closed at 15:00 on 4 March. A liquor ban was imposed with effect from the voting day and till 06:00 the next morning. No violence was reported during the voting.[5]
Results[]
The provisional results showed the ruling Human Rights Protection Party leading with 47 seats out of a maximum of 49.[6][7] In the previous elections held in 2011, it won 36 seats and the Tautua Samoa Party emerged as the second largest party with 13 seats. The only non-HRPP winners in these elections were TSP deputy leader Aeau Peniamina and Ili Setefano Ta’ateo.[8] A number of government ministers lost their seats to newcoming MPs, as did opposition leader Palusalue Fa’apo II.[9][10] Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi thanked the citizens for "the overwhelming vote of confidence in our vision for [Samoa]". Four women MPs were elected and a fifth, the female candidate with the highest percentage of votes yet to be elected, was added to meet the quota requirements of 10% female MPs. Independent Rosa Duffy-Stowers, who got the third highest vote share in the Gagaifomauga constituency,[11] was selected increasing the parliament's strength to 50 members.[8]
Olo Fiti Vaai, independent MP for Salega East, pledged to join the TSP at the restart of parliament.[12]
Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Human Rights Protection Party | 45,505 | 56.92 | 35 | +6 | |
Tautua Samoa Party | 6,743 | 8.43 | 2 | –11 | |
Independents | 27,704 | 34.65 | 13 | +6 | |
Total | 79,952 | 100.00 | 50 | +1 | |
Valid votes | 79,952 | 99.06 | |||
Invalid/blank votes | 759 | 0.94 | |||
Total votes | 80,711 | 100.00 | |||
Registered voters/turnout | 115,901 | 69.64 | |||
Source: Government of Samoa, OEC, Election Passport |
By constituency[]
Constituency | Turnout | Political party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vaimauga East | 2,259 | Independent | Sulamanaia Tauiliili Tuivasa | 997 | 44.1 | |||
HRPP | Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau | 891 | 39.4 | |||||
Independent | Tafaese Uili Lautua | 371 | 16.4 | |||||
Vaimauga West No. 1 | 2,198 | HRPP | Lenatai Victor Tamapua | 1,150 | 52.3 | |||
Independent | Lautimuia Uelese Vaai | 898 | 40.9 | |||||
Independent | Patū Sola Siaosi Hunt | 150 | 6.8 | |||||
Vaimauga West No. 2 | 2,097 | HRPP | Faaolesa Katopau Ainuu | 1,556 | 74.2 | |||
TSP | Lefau Harry Schuster | 482 | 23.0 | |||||
Independent | Tauamamanuvao Falani Mamea | 59 | 2.8 | |||||
Faleata East | 2,364 | HRPP | Salausa John Ah Ching | 756 | 32.0 | |||
HRPP | Aulavemai Tafito Selesele | 606 | 25.6 | |||||
TSP | Aveau Niko Palamo | 548 | 23.2 | |||||
HRPP | Nuu Tapasu Leung Wai | 454 | 19.2 | |||||
Faleata West | 3,327 | HRPP | Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi | 1,102 | 33.1 | |||
HRPP | Ulu Bismarck Crawley | 968 | 29.1 | |||||
HRPP | Ale Vena Ale | 909 | 27.3 | |||||
HRPP | Moala Panoa Tavita | 348 | 10.5 | |||||
Sagaga-Le-Falefa | 3,412 | Independent | Loau Keneti Sio | 1,536 | 45.0 | |||
HRPP | Tuisa Tulimasealii Tasi | 1,087 | 31.9 | |||||
Independent | Tagaloatele Pasi Poloa | 789 | 23.1 | |||||
Sagaga-Le-Usoga | 2,196 | HRPP | Seiuli Ueligitone Seiuli | 1,062 | 48.4 | |||
Independent | Maulolo Tavita Amosa | 527 | 24.0 | |||||
Independent | Fata Meafou | 341 | 15.5 | |||||
Independent | Togatalimā Faafouina Milford | 266 | 12.1 | |||||
A'ana Alofi No. 1 East | 1,756 | HRPP | Tuitama Talalelei Tuitama | 691 | 39.4 | |||
Independent | Fesolai Tusiupu Tuigamala | 549 | 31.3 | |||||
Independent | Fesolai Aleni Sofara | 516 | 29.4 | |||||
A'ana Alofi No. 1 West | 1,170 | HRPP | Leaupepe Toleafoa Faafisi | 570 | 48.7 | |||
Independent | Aiono Tile Gafa | 466 | 39.8 | |||||
Independent | Lolomatauma Eseta Mataituli | 72 | 6.2 | |||||
Independent | Leaupepe Savelio Leaupepe | 62 | 5.3 | |||||
A'ana Alofi No. 2 | 1,478 | TSP | Ili Setefano Taʻateo | 878 | 59.4 | |||
HRPP | Tolofuaivalelei Falemoe Leiʻataua | 600 | 40.6 | |||||
A'ana Alofi No. 3 | 1,780 | HRPP | Afamasaga Rico Tupai | 896 | 50.3 | |||
TSP | Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster | 768 | 43.2 | |||||
HRPP | Leituala Logona Vaafusuaga | 116 | 6.5 | |||||
Aiga-i-le-Tai | 3,069 | Independent | Laki Mulipola Leiataua | 1,467 | 47.8 | |||
HRPP | Ifopo Matia Filisi | 847 | 27.6 | |||||
Independent | Mulipola Taupau Oliva | 654 | 21.3 | |||||
Independent | Tautaiolevao Tautala Asovale | 101 | 3.3 | |||||
Falelatai and Samatau | 2,001 | HRPP | Taefu Lemi | 889 | 44.4 | |||
Independent | Anae Misa Pita II Anae | 780 | 39.0 | |||||
Independent | Toomaga Taefu Salapu | 332 | 16.6 | |||||
Lefaga and Falese'ela | 2,510 | HRPP | Toleafoa Ken Vaafusuaga Poutoa | 945 | 37.7 | |||
HRPP | Sua Tanielu Faiaoga | 752 | 30.0 | |||||
HRPP | Lemalu Silivia Taupau | 451 | 18.0 | |||||
HRPP | Masinalupe Tusipa Venu | 231 | 9.2 | |||||
HRPP | Lemalu Nele Leilua | 86 | 3.4 | |||||
TSP | Unasa Tauaipolu Iulia Petelo | 45 | 1.8 | |||||
Safata East | 1,351 | HRPP | Nonu Lose Niumata | 548 | 40.6 | |||
Independent | Leota-Suatlele Manusegi | 407 | 30.1 | |||||
HRPP | Nonu Lose Niumata | 396 | 29.3 | |||||
Safata West | 2,404 | Independent | Leaana Ronnie Posini | 1,020 | 42.4 | |||
TSP | Palusalue Faʻapo II | 709 | 29.5 | |||||
HRPP | Manualesagalala Mati Lemalu | 675 | 28.1 | |||||
Siumu | 1,568 | Independent | Faalogo Iosefa Sopi | 778 | 49.7 | |||
HRPP | Tuuu Anasii Leota | 738 | 47.2 | |||||
Independent | Afoa Fetulima | 49 | 3.1 | |||||
Falealili East | 1,205 | HRPP | Fuimaono Teo Samuelu | 439 | 36.4 | |||
HRPP | Maiava Viiga Fuimaono | 355 | 29.5 | |||||
TSP | Fuimaono Aloalii Alex Wright | 348 | 28.9 | |||||
HRPP | Tofuaiofoia Falefa Lima | 37 | 3.1 | |||||
HRPP | Fuimaono Esera Rimoni | 26 | 2.2 | |||||
Falealili West | 2,071 | Independent | Aumua Isaia Lameko | 744 | 35.9 | |||
HRPP | Tulsa Misi Tupuola | 737 | 35.6 | |||||
Independent | Teo Uuvalu Mauga | 323 | 15.6 | |||||
HRPP | Vaetuifeai Poe Elama | 166 | 8.0 | |||||
Independent | Tuiloma Agaalii Liliva | 101 | 4.9 | |||||
Aleipata Itupa-I-Lalo | 1,859 | HRPP | Tafua Maluelue Tafua | 963 | 51.8 | |||
Independent | Tuiavii Poloma Eteuati | 540 | 29.1 | |||||
Independent | Faagasealii Sapoa Feagiai | 182 | 9.8 | |||||
Independent | Vaimasanuu Zita Martel | 93 | 5.0 | |||||
TSP | Letiu Tamatoa Penaia | 81 | 4.4 | |||||
Va'a-o-Fonoti | 1,145 | HRPP | Tialavea Tionisio Hunt | 573 | 50.0 | |||
Independent | Leilua Tavas Leota | 254 | 22.2 | |||||
Independent | Molioo Pio Leo | 215 | 18.8 | |||||
Independent | Ofoia Vaipua Nomeneta | 103 | 9.0 | |||||
Anoama'a East | 1,556 | HRPP | Alaiasa Sepulona Moananu | 721 | 46.3 | |||
HRPP | Alaiasa Malia Elisapeta | 342 | 22.0 | |||||
TSP | Poloai Akapo | 209 | 13.4 | |||||
HRPP | Manu L. Maugatai | 157 | 10.1 | |||||
Independent | Tofae Alailima Ropeti | 107 | 6.9 | |||||
TSP | Alaiasa Elena | 20 | 1.3 | |||||
Anoama'a West | 1,919 | HRPP | Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo | 1,169 | 60.9 | |||
Independent | Leota-Leuluaialii Ituau Ale | 412 | 21.5 | |||||
Independent | Tufeao Faatuai Pulepule | 338 | 17.6 | |||||
Fa'asalele'aga No. 1 East | 1,503 | HRPP | Sili Epa Tuioti | 549 | 36.1 | |||
Independent | Pauli Ivan Joseph Williams | 543 | 36.1 | |||||
HRPP | Leatigaga Tuasivi Samoa | 411 | 27.4 | |||||
Fa'asalele'aga No. 1 West | 1,589 | HRPP | Gatoloaifaana Amataga Alesana-Gidlow | 893 | 56.2 | |||
HRPP | Magele Mauiliu Magele | 625 | 39.3 | |||||
TSP | Talalafai Kapeli Vaiola | 35 | 2.2 | |||||
TSP | Suafoa Faimata Fauena Sua | 21 | 1.3 | |||||
Independent | Vaasilifiti Moelagi Jackson | 15 | 0.9 | |||||
Fa'asalele'aga No. 2 | 2,359 | HRPP | Pa’u Sefo Pa’u | 823 | 34.9 | |||
HRPP | Namulauulu Leota Sami | 784 | 33.2 | |||||
TSP | Papali’i Li’o Taeu Masipau | 752 | 31.9 | |||||
Fa'asalele'aga No. 3 | 1,460 | HRPP | Tofa Lio Foleni | 602 | 41.2 | |||
Independent | Tea Toala Peato | 516 | 35.3 | |||||
HRPP | Unasa Faapupula Metuli | 257 | 17.6 | |||||
HRPP | Tooala Tulouna Lepou | 85 | 5.8 | |||||
Fa'asalele'aga No. 4 | 1,242 | HRPP | Peseta Vaifou Tevaga | 678 | 54.6 | |||
Independent | Vui Umamalu Sione | 564 | 45.4 | |||||
Gaga'emauga No. 1 | 1,969 | HRPP | Sala Fata Pinati | 1,064 | 54.0 | |||
Independent | Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio | 855 | 43.4 | |||||
TSP | Sala Malautea Iose McCarty | 50 | 2.5 | |||||
Gaga'emauga No. 2 | 758 | HRPP | Fa’aso’otauloa Pati Taulapapa | 216 | 28.5 | |||
HRPP | Seuoti Sheryl Muagututia | 183 | 24.1 | |||||
HRPP | Aufai Levaopolo Amuimuia | 169 | 22.3 | |||||
HRPP | Semau Faamau Levi | 163 | 21.5 | |||||
HRPP | Lofipo Faletolu Ula | 27 | 3.6 | |||||
Gaga'emauga No. 3 | 1,584 | Independent | Nafoitoa Talaimanu Keti | 838 | 52.9 | |||
HRPP | Faamoetauloa Ulaitino Faale Tumaalii | 746 | 47.1 | |||||
Gaga'ifoimauga No. 1 | 1,115 | HRPP | Faimalotoa Kika Stowers | 632 | 56.7 | |||
Independent | Lavea Natoealofa Ieti | 483 | 43.3 | |||||
Gaga'ifoimauga No. 2 | 1,308 | HRPP | So’oalo Umi Feo Mene | 891 | 68.1 | |||
Independent | Taulealeausumai Aumalaga Tiotio | 209 | 16.0 | |||||
TSP | Manuta Lavamaile Uesile | 208 | 15.9 | |||||
Gaga'ifoimauga No. 3 | 1,096 | HRPP | La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao | 707 | 64.5 | |||
Independent | Fa'aulusau Rosa Duffy-Stowers | 389 | 35.5 | |||||
Vaisigano No. 1 | 1,412 | Independent | Lopao'o Natanielu Mua | 899 | 63.7 | |||
Independent | Paiali'i Mao II Ropati | 201 | 14.2 | |||||
TSP | Va'ai Papu Vailupe | 193 | 13.7 | |||||
Independent | Amituanai Tautofi Roma | 64 | 4.5 | |||||
HRPP | Tufuga Gafoaleata Faitua | 55 | 3.9 | |||||
Vaisigano No. 2 | 1,180 | HRPP | Tapulesatele Mauteni Esera | 718 | 60.8 | |||
TSP | Motuopua'a Uifagasa Aisoli | 462 | 39.2 | |||||
Falealupo | 887 | TSP | A'eau Peniamina | 372 | 41.9 | |||
HRPP | Seumanutafa Akerei Salesa | 329 | 37.1 | |||||
HRPP | Aeau Niulesa Mareko Lamositele | 186 | 21.0 | |||||
Alataua West | 1,217 | Independent | Ali'imalemanu Alofa Tuuau | 432 | 35.5 | |||
Independent | Aiolupotea Ta'atiti Visekota | 332 | 27.3 | |||||
HRPP | Lafaitele Patrick Leiataualesa | 280 | 23.0 | |||||
Independent | Tuifaiga Loluama Yoshida Tuimaualuga | 100 | 8.2 | |||||
TSP | Pei Iefata Reupena Tauili'ili | 62 | 5.1 | |||||
Independent | Momoemausu Siaifa Uipa | 11 | 0.9 | |||||
Salega East | 678 | Independent | Olo Fiti Vaai | 305 | 45.0 | |||
HRPP | Tupuai Suimai Tapuai | 173 | 26.3 | |||||
TSP | Tapuai Toese Ah Sam | 164 | 24.2 | |||||
HRPP | Tupuai Titi Fuli | 31 | 4.6 | |||||
Salega West | 1,191 | HRPP | To'omata Aki Tuipea | 730 | 61.3 | |||
TSP | Afualo Wood Salele | 461 | 38.7 | |||||
Palauli East | 1,841 | Independent | Tuifa'asisina Misa Lisati | 972 | 52.8 | |||
HRPP | Afoafouvale John Moors | 664 | 36.1 | |||||
Independent | Fiso Evelini Fa'amoe | 123 | 6.7 | |||||
TSP | Fiso Taranaki Mailei-Tamasese | 82 | 4.5 | |||||
Palauli West | 1,957 | Independent | Afoa Amituanai Faleulu Mauli | 710 | 36.3 | |||
Independent | Leotamanusala Lene Leota | 479 | 24.5 | |||||
HRPP | Agafili Patisela Eteuati Tolovaa | 452 | 23.1 | |||||
Independent | Mulipola Opalani Ah Ching | 316 | 16.2 | |||||
Palauli-Le-Falefa | 1,978 | HRPP | Faumuina Tiatia Liuga | 762 | 38.5 | |||
Independent | Leota Laki Lamositele-Sio | 671 | 33.9 | |||||
TSP | Tiatia Mapesone Malo | 545 | 27.6 | |||||
Urban East | 1,735 | HRPP | Tapunuu Niko Lee Hang | 1,360 | 78.4 | |||
Independent | Pulemagafa Mara Coffin Hunter | 326 | 18.8 | |||||
HRPP | Namulauulu M. Nuualofa | 49 | 2.8 | |||||
Urban West | 3,201 | HRPP | Faumuina Asi Pauli Wayne Fong | 1,198 | 37.4 | |||
HRPP | Maualaivao Pat Ah Him | 1,096 | 34.2 | |||||
HRPP | Matafeo Falanaipupu Tanielu Aiafi | 881 | 27.5 | |||||
HRPP | Matamua Fred Amoa | 26 | 0.8 | |||||
Sources: Psephos Adam Carr, OEC |
Uncontested[]
The following candidates were elected unopposed:
Constituency | Candidate | Party |
---|---|---|
Aleipata Itupa-I-Luga | Amituanai Fagaivalu Kenrick Samu | HRPP |
Lepā | Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi | |
Lotofaga | Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa | |
Satupa'itea | Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell | |
Source: Psephos Adam Carr |
Aftermath[]
Palusalue Fa’apo II blamed the Tautua Samoa Party’s landslide loss on vote-buying. The former shadow minister of finance Afualo Wood Salele shared this sentiment, claiming that candidates offered bags of rice and other foods to voters. MP Olo Fiti Vaai requested that the HRPP consider lowering the seat quota for parties to attain recognition in parliament;[13] members of the ruling party echoed this statement. With the absence of an official opposition, Tuila'epa instructed 19 HRPP caucus members who were not appointed associate ministers to play the role of the opposition along with the Tautua Samoa MPs.[14]
Prime minister Tuila'epa appointed seven new cabinet ministers. Although re-elected to parliament, deputy prime minister Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo was not reappointed to cabinet; he was previously fined for traffic offences in 2014. Fonotoe was replaced by long-serving cabinet minister Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa, who became Samoa's first female deputy prime minister.[15][16]
The O le Ao o le Malo, Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi, officially opened the 16th parliamentary session on 18 March 2016.[17]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "Samoa (Fono) Electoral system". Inter-Parliamentary Union. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ Timutimu, Ripeka (4 March 2016). "Easy victory predicted for Tuilaepa". Māori Television. Archived from the original on 29 July 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ "Constitution Amendment Act 2013" (PDF). International Labour Organization. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ Ripeka Timutimu (4 March 2016). "Easy victory predicted for Tuilaepa". Te Ao Maori News. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- ^ "Voting underway in Samoa's general election". Radio New Zealand. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ "Samoa's ruling party set for landslide win: initial results". Bangkok Post. 5 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ "Samoa now 'one party state', Tuilaepa crushes Tautua opposition". Asia Pacific Report. 5 March 2016. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Samoan ruling party set for landslide victory in general elections". ABC Online. 5 March 2016. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ Polu, Lance (5 March 2016). "Samoan voters return HRPP in landslide victory – annihilates a parliamentary Opposition". Talamua On-line News. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ Lesa, Mata'afa Keni (5 March 2016). "Congratulations to all the winners". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ "Fa'aulusau Rosa Duffy-Stowers secures 5th Parliamentary seat for women". Talamua On-line News. 11 March 2016. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- ^ Tupufia, Lanuola Tusani (6 March 2016). "Count me in, Olo stands up for Tautua". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 9 August 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ "Tautua Samoa party finally talks after disastrous poll results". RNZ. 9 March 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ "Samoa Tautua and HRPP MPs to play role of opposition". RNZ. 19 March 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ "Former Samoa deputy PM left out of cabinet". RNZ. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ "THE 12 DISCIPLES". Samoa Observer. 19 March 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ "Sixteenth Parliament sworn-in, New Cabinet Announced". www.samoagovt.ws. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- 2016 elections in Oceania
- 2016 in Samoa
- Elections in Samoa