Samoa’s newly elected members of Parliament are expected to be sworn in before the end of the week to allow for a new government to be formed.
The recent general elections have returned the Human Rights Protection Party and the less than one year old Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) Party with 25 seats each with a sole independent MP holding the balance of power.
The MP, lawyer and businessman Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio announced on New Zealand-based Eye on Samoa Radio that he has met the leaders of both parties and that he has not made a decision which one to support.
The Head of State must now call Parliament to convene so a government can be formed to carry out the business of governing the country.
Constitutional lawyer Leuluaialii Tasi Malifa told KHJ News that parliament must be called now that the final election count is official.
He said while parties like to know the numbers, “sometimes they won’t know until a vote is held”.
When asked about the legal challenges that are likely to be filed, he said they will take their course.
“The swearing in doesn’t have to wait for petitions,” he said.
Election petitions must be lodged with the Supreme Court within 10 days of the official announcement of the election results.
The Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Tiatia Graeme Tualaulelei told local media that the parliament will convene as early as Friday or as late as next week.
Even if Tuala does not reveal which party he will support, his hand will be forced once Parliament is called.
After swearing in of members, the first order of business will be the election of the new Speaker of the House, usually conducted by the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly.
Even if Tuala does not announce which camp he will move into, all will be revealed when a vote is called.
