Samoan general election, 1991
Encyclopedia
General elections were held in Samoa
on 5 April 1991. Following a referendum
the previous year, they were the first under universal suffrage
, although candidates still had to be members of the Matai
. The result was a victory for the Human Rights Protection Party
, which won 27 of the 47 seats.
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 5 April 1991. Following a referendum
Samoan constitutional referendum, 1990
A constitutional referendum was held in Samoa on 12 November 1990. Voters were asked whether they approved of the introduction of universal suffrage and a second chamber of Parliament. The first change was approved by 52.6% of voters, but the second opposed by 60.7%...
the previous year, they were the first under universal suffrage
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
, although candidates still had to be members of the 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...
. The result was a victory for 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...
, which won 27 of the 47 seats.
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... |
34,262 | 44.8 | 27 | |
| Samoan National Development Party Samoan National Development Party The Samoan National Development Party was a political party in Samoa, and the country's main opposition party between 1988 and 2003.The party was formed from a merger of the Christian Democratic Party and Samoa National Party in April 1988. At the 2001 election the party won 23.5% of popular... |
17,966 | 23.5 | 15 | New |
| Samoan United People's Party Samoan United People's Party The Samoa United Peoples Party is a political party in Samoa.At the legislative elections, 4 March 2001, the party won 2.5% of popular votes and 1 out of 49 seats. It didn't take part in the 2006 elections.... |
1,898 | 2.5 | 0 | New |
| Samoa All People's Party Samoa All People's Party The Samoa All People's Party was a political party in Samoa. It was formed on March 24, 1996 by former Human Rights Protection Party MP Matatumua Maimoaga, who became Samoa's first female political party leader. The party was notable for its internal equality, allowing people as young as 16 and... |
10 | 0.0 | 0 | New |
| Independents | 22,315 | 29.3 | 5 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 360 | |||
| Total | 76,811 | 100 | 47 | 0 |
| Source: Nohlen et al | ||||