Human Rights Protection Party
This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2018) |
Human Rights Protection Party Vaega Faaupufai e Puipuia Aia Tatau a Tagata | |
---|---|
Leader | Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi |
Deputy Leader | Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo[1] |
Founded | May 1979 |
Ideology | Liberal conservatism[citation needed] Centrism[citation needed] Christian democracy |
Political position | Centre[2] to centre-right[3] |
Religion | Christianity |
Colours | Blue |
Legislative Assembly | 18 / 51 |
Website | |
Official website | |
The Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP, Samoan: Vaega Faaupufai e Puipuia Aia Tatau a Tagata) is a Samoan political party. It was founded in 1982 and dominated Samoan party politics for decades thereafter, leading every government until their defeat in 2021.
Va'ai Kolone and Tofilau Eti Alesana co-founded the party in May 1979 in opposition to the government of Tupuola Efi.[4] It has governed the country since first winning power in 1982, except for a brief period in 1986 and 1987 when internal differences forced it into coalition.
The two founders of the early party, Kolone and Alesana, both became Prime Ministers of Samoa.
Former Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi has led the party since 1998.
The U.S. State Department's 2010 human-rights report (published on 8 April 2011) stated that the Human Rights Protection Party remained the only officially recognized party in the Legislative Assembly of Samoa[5] (the Fono) as of that date.
After the April 2021 Samoan general election the HRPP refused to yield power to the newly-elected government, triggering the 2021 Samoan constitutional crisis.[6][7] The Court of Appeal ruled against the HRPP on 23 July 2021, allowing the opposition to belatedly take power.[8]
Principles and policies[]
In June 2017, the Samoan Parliament passed a bill to increase support for Christianity in the country's constitution, including a reference to the Trinity. Article 1 of the Samoan Constitution states that “Samoa is a Christian nation founded of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”. According to The Diplomat, "What Samoa has done is shift references to Christianity into the body of the constitution, giving the text far more potential to be used in legal processes."[9] The preamble to the constitution already described the country as "an independent State based on Christian principles and Samoan custom and traditions."[9]
Electoral performance[]
Legislative Assembly[]
Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Rank | Government |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1982 | Va'ai Kolone | 3,482 | 29.3 | 24 / 47
|
1 | 1st | Majority |
1985 | Tofilau Eti Alesana | 4,698 | 34.5 | 32 / 47
|
8 | 1st | Supermajority |
1988 | 5,017 | 35.9 | 23 / 47
|
9 | 1st | Majority | |
1991 | 34,262 | 44.8 | 27 / 47
|
4 | 1st | Majority | |
1996 | 29,353 | 43.5 | 24 / 49
|
3 | 1st | Majority | |
2001 | Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi | 34,262 | 44.8 | 23 / 49
|
1 | 1st | Majority |
2006 | 35 / 49
|
12 | 1st | Supermajority | |||
2011 | 48,771 | 55.6 | 29 / 49
|
6 | 1st | Majority | |
2016 | 45,505 | 56.9 | 35 / 50
|
6 | 1st | Supermajority | |
2021 | 49,237 | 55.4 | 25 / 51
|
10 | 1st | Opposition |
References[]
- ^ Marieta H Ilalio (23 April 2021). "HRPP Selects Fonotoe as Deputy Leader". Samoa Global News. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ Freedom House (2003). Freedom in the World 2003: The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 475. ISBN 9780742528703.
- ^ Derbyshire, J. Denis; Derbyshire, Ian (1989). Political Systems Of The World. New Delhi: Allied Publishers. p. 123. ISBN 9788170233077.
- ^ Asofou So'o (2005). "The establishment and operation of Samoa's political party system". In Roland Rich, Luke Hambly and Michael G. Morgan (ed.). Political Parties in the Pacific Islands. Canberra: Pandanus Books. p. 189.
- ^ 2010 Human Rights Report: Samoa, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, April 8, 2011
- ^ Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (22 May 2021). "Head of State suspends Parliament". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
Samoa has been thrown into a constitutional crisis
- ^
Jamie Tahana (22 May 2021). "Sitting of Samoa parliament cancelled; constitutional turmoil deepens". RNZ. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
with the country now well engulfed in a constitutional crisis
- ^ Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (23 July 2021). "F.A.S.T. declared new Government as appeal upheld". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Wyeth, Grant (16 June 2017). "Samoa Officially Becomes a Christian State". The Diplomat. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
- Political parties in Samoa
- Political parties established in 1979
- Human rights in Samoa
- 1979 establishments in Samoa
- Christian political parties
- Oceanian political party stubs
- Samoa stubs