Tautua Samoa Party
Encyclopedia
Tautua Samoa is a political party
in Samoa
. The party's policies include economic development, particularly in the agricultural sector, public service reform, a limit on the number of Associate Ministers, and a reduction in the term of Parliament from 5 to 3 or 4 years. Its leader is Leatinu’u Salote Lesa.
.
Under the Samoan Electoral Act, registering as members of a new party would have required Tautua Samoa's members to contest a by-election for their parliamentary seats. To avoid this, the party was initially registered under the Companies Act, and its members remained listed as independents.
The party launched with no formal leader; its interim chair was Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi
. In January 2009, the Speaker of Parliament ordered Tautua Samoa to provide formal notice of its existence and membership. The party formally identified itself, and nine Members of Parliament identified themselves as members. In May, Speaker Tolofuaivalelei Falemoe Lei'ataua revoked the parliamentary membership of all nine of the party's MPs, on the grounds that joining a part after being elected "breached the provisions of the Electoral Act and the parliament standing orders". Their expulsion from Parliament would prompt by-election
s. Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi stated that he would seek an interim injunction against the Speaker's ruling. The Supreme Court of Samoa cancelled the by-elections and reinstated the MPs, stating that the speaker's position was wrong and the party formation was legal.
In March 2010, the Electoral Act was amended, forbidding any Member of Parliament from leaving his initial party while retaining his seat. Consequently, three members of the Tautua Samoa Party resigned from Parliament: party chairman Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi
, and former HRPP
cabinet ministers Palusalue Fa’apo II
and Va'ai Papu Vailupe
. Their resignation will lead to by-elections in their constituencies: Vaisigano number one, Faleata west, and Safata territorial. Only those three Members of Parliament resigned, because only they declared they were members of the party following its formal registration. Other MPs who had initially aligned themselves with the party are therefore not officially members.
On 2 May 2010 Va'ai Papu Vailupe
was elected unopposed in the Vaisigano by-election
, becoming the first MP elected for the party.
and is negotiating with the People's Party for the latter to run their candidates under the Tautua banner. Shortly thereafter, the leader of the Samoa Party, Feo Nemaia Esau, announced that his party had disbanded and merged into the Tautua Samoa Party. He explained that the merger would form a more "united opposition" to the ruling Human Rights Protection Party.
Also in September 2010, founding member Mulipola Oliva asked to run as an HRPP candidate.
In November, the party announced that it had reached an agreement with the United Samoa People's Party and several independent politicians to form an organisation, Tumua'i Tutusa, to campaign together for the election. The new group's chairman, Afualo Dr. Wood Salele, stated that the organisation would seek divine intervention
, notably through a week of fasting and praying, to defeat the Human Rights Protection Party in the upcoming election. In December, party president Papalii Tavita Moala resigned unexpectedly, and Afualo Dr. Woods Salele was chosen for the presidency in his place.
In February 2011 at least three Tautua candidates were prevented from standing after village mayors refused to sign their nomination forms.
Tautua Samoa Party President Va'aelua Eti Alesana
, who was elected in February 2011, died on 4 October 2011. On November 11, Leatinu’u Salote Lesa became the party's president - the first woman to lead a political party in Samoa.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Samoa
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...
. The party's policies include economic development, particularly in the agricultural sector, public service reform, a limit on the number of Associate Ministers, and a reduction in the term of Parliament from 5 to 3 or 4 years. Its leader is Leatinu’u Salote Lesa.
Formation
The party was formed by 11 independent Members of Parliament in December 2008. The party's founders described their aim as providing parliamentary opposition to the ruling Human Rights Protection PartyHuman 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...
.
Under the Samoan Electoral Act, registering as members of a new party would have required Tautua Samoa's members to contest a by-election for their parliamentary seats. To avoid this, the party was initially registered under the Companies Act, and its members remained listed as independents.
The party launched with no formal leader; its interim chair was Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi
Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi
Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi is a Samoan politician and former member of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa. He is the founder and interim chair of the Tautua Samoa party....
. In January 2009, the Speaker of Parliament ordered Tautua Samoa to provide formal notice of its existence and membership. The party formally identified itself, and nine Members of Parliament identified themselves as members. In May, Speaker Tolofuaivalelei Falemoe Lei'ataua revoked the parliamentary membership of all nine of the party's MPs, on the grounds that joining a part after being elected "breached the provisions of the Electoral Act and the parliament standing orders". Their expulsion from Parliament would prompt by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
s. Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi stated that he would seek an interim injunction against the Speaker's ruling. The Supreme Court of Samoa cancelled the by-elections and reinstated the MPs, stating that the speaker's position was wrong and the party formation was legal.
In March 2010, the Electoral Act was amended, forbidding any Member of Parliament from leaving his initial party while retaining his seat. Consequently, three members of the Tautua Samoa Party resigned from Parliament: party chairman Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi
Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi
Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi is a Samoan politician and former member of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa. He is the founder and interim chair of the Tautua Samoa party....
, and former HRPP
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...
cabinet ministers Palusalue Fa’apo II
Palusalue Fa’apo II
Palusalue Fa’apo II is a Samoan politician and former Cabinet Minister. He is the leader of the opposition Tautua Samoa Party.Palusalue was first elected to Parliament in 1996. He served as Parliamentary Undersecretary to the Minister of Justice...
and Va'ai Papu Vailupe
Va'ai Papu Vailupe
Va'ai Papu Vailupe is a Samoan politician and Member of Parliament. He is the leader of the Tautua Samoa Party.Va'ai was first elected to the Samoan Legislative Assembly at the 1991 election...
. Their resignation will lead to by-elections in their constituencies: Vaisigano number one, Faleata west, and Safata territorial. Only those three Members of Parliament resigned, because only they declared they were members of the party following its formal registration. Other MPs who had initially aligned themselves with the party are therefore not officially members.
On 2 May 2010 Va'ai Papu Vailupe
Va'ai Papu Vailupe
Va'ai Papu Vailupe is a Samoan politician and Member of Parliament. He is the leader of the Tautua Samoa Party.Va'ai was first elected to the Samoan Legislative Assembly at the 1991 election...
was elected unopposed in the Vaisigano by-election
Vaisigano by-election, 2010
A by-election was held in the Vaisigano No.1 constituency in Samoa in May 2010. The by-election was precipitated by the disqualification from the Legislative Assembly of Va'ai Papu Vailupe for joining the Tautua Samoa Party, and was scheduled for 14 May, However, the Human Rights Protection Party...
, becoming the first MP elected for the party.
2011 election
In September 2010 the party announced that it had made an agreement with the Samoa PartySamoa Party
The Samoa Party was a small party of Samoa. The party was founded in September 2005 by former auditor-general Su'a Rimoni Ah Chong on a platform to restore the primacy of parliament. During the most recent elections on 2 April 2006, it didn't secure a seat....
and is negotiating with the People's Party for the latter to run their candidates under the Tautua banner. Shortly thereafter, the leader of the Samoa Party, Feo Nemaia Esau, announced that his party had disbanded and merged into the Tautua Samoa Party. He explained that the merger would form a more "united opposition" to the ruling Human Rights Protection Party.
Also in September 2010, founding member Mulipola Oliva asked to run as an HRPP candidate.
In November, the party announced that it had reached an agreement with the United Samoa People's Party and several independent politicians to form an organisation, Tumua'i Tutusa, to campaign together for the election. The new group's chairman, Afualo Dr. Wood Salele, stated that the organisation would seek divine intervention
Divine Intervention
Divine intervention is a term for a miracle caused by God's/a god's active involvement in the human world.Divine Intervention may also refer to:*"Divine Intervention", a 1991 song on Matthew Sweet's album Girlfriend....
, notably through a week of fasting and praying, to defeat the Human Rights Protection Party in the upcoming election. In December, party president Papalii Tavita Moala resigned unexpectedly, and Afualo Dr. Woods Salele was chosen for the presidency in his place.
In February 2011 at least three Tautua candidates were prevented from standing after village mayors refused to sign their nomination forms.
Tautua Samoa Party President Va'aelua Eti Alesana
Va'aelua Eti Alesana
Va'aelua Eti Alesana was a Samoan politician and opposition leader who served as a founding member and President of the Tautua Samoa Party in 2011.He was the son of former Prime Minister of Samoa, Tofilau Eti Alesana...
, who was elected in February 2011, died on 4 October 2011. On November 11, Leatinu’u Salote Lesa became the party's president - the first woman to lead a political party in Samoa.
Initial MPs
- Lealailepule Rimoni AiafiLealailepule Rimoni AiafiLealailepule Rimoni Aiafi is a Samoan politician and former member of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa. He is the founder and interim chair of the Tautua Samoa party....
- Palusalue Fa’apo IIPalusalue Fa’apo IIPalusalue Fa’apo II is a Samoan politician and former Cabinet Minister. He is the leader of the opposition Tautua Samoa Party.Palusalue was first elected to Parliament in 1996. He served as Parliamentary Undersecretary to the Minister of Justice...
- A'eau PeniaminaA'eau PeniaminaA'eau Peniamina is a matai and politician in Samoa. He is the Member of Parliament for the Falealupo electoral constituency on the island of Savai'i...
- Levaopolo Talatonu Va’ai
- Fuimaono Naoia TeiFuimaono Naoia TeiFuimaono Naoia Tei is a Samoan politician and Member of Parliament. She represents the Falealili constituency and was, initially, a member of the Samoan Democratic United Party. She was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Samoa in the 2006 elections, and was one of four women MPs at the...
- Mulipola Oliva
- Va'ai Papu VailupeVa'ai Papu VailupeVa'ai Papu Vailupe is a Samoan politician and Member of Parliament. He is the leader of the Tautua Samoa Party.Va'ai was first elected to the Samoan Legislative Assembly at the 1991 election...
- Motuopuaa Uifagasa Aisoli
- Toluono FetiToluono FetiToluono Feti Toluono is a Samoan politician and member of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa. He was a founding member of the Tautua Samoa Party.In January 2011 Toluono was prosecuted on charges of theft and fraud relating to an unlawful land transfer....