Samoan general election, 1988
Encyclopedia
General elections were held in Samoa
on 26 February 1988. Voting was restricted to Matai
and citizens of European origin ("individual voters"), with the Matai electing 45 MPs and Europeans two. Although the Human Rights Protection Party
received more than double the number of votes of the Coalition of the Christian Democratic Party
and the Va'ai Kolone
Group, it won one fewer seat. However, on the day of the election of the Prime Minister by Parliament, one Coalition MP defected to the HRPP, allowing its leader Tofilau Eti Alesana
to be elected Prime Minister.
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
on 26 February 1988. Voting was restricted to Matai
Fa'amatai
Fa'amatai is the chiefly system of Samoa, central to the organization of Samoan society.It is the traditional indigenous form of governance in the Samoa Islands, comprising American Samoa and the Independent State of Samoa...
and citizens of European origin ("individual voters"), with the Matai electing 45 MPs and Europeans two. Although the Human Rights Protection Party
Human Rights Protection Party
The Human Rights Protection Party is a Samoan political party. It has been the dominant party in Samoan politics since 1982.The party was co-founded in May 1979 by Va'ai Kolone and Tofilau Eti Alesana in opposition to the government of Tupuola Efi...
received more than double the number of votes of the Coalition of the Christian Democratic Party
Christian Democratic Party (Samoa)
The Christian Democratic Party was a political party in Samoa. The party was founded in February 1985 by the supporters of former Prime Minister Tupuola Taisi Tufuga Efi...
and the Va'ai Kolone
Va'ai Kolone
Va'ai Kolone was a Prime Minister of Samoa and a founder of the Human Rights Protection Party in Samoa. He served as Prime Minister twice, first between 13 April and 18 September 1982, and then from 30 December 1985 until 8 April 1988...
Group, it won one fewer seat. However, on the day of the election of the Prime Minister by Parliament, one Coalition MP defected to the HRPP, allowing its leader Tofilau Eti Alesana
Tofilau Eti Alesana
Tofilau Eti Alesana, AC, born Aualamalefalelima Alesana, was a Samoan politician. He was born in Vaitogi, Tutuila, American Samoa to a Samoan upper-class parents, Reverend James Alesana Fai'ivae and Vaoita Iosefa Mala'itai...
to be elected Prime Minister.
Results
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human Rights Protection Party Human Rights Protection Party The Human Rights Protection Party is a Samoan political party. It has been the dominant party in Samoan politics since 1982.The party was co-founded in May 1979 by Va'ai Kolone and Tofilau Eti Alesana in opposition to the government of Tupuola Efi... |
5,017 | 35.9 | 23 | |
| Coalition | 2,300 | 16.4 | 24 | New |
| Independents | 6,668 | 47.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 83 | |||
| Total | 14,065 | 100 | 47 | 0 |
| Source: Nohlen et al | ||||