The appointment of two women Members of Parliament in Samoa under section 44 of the Constitution, is set to be challenged in court by the Fa’atuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi party.
Samoa Observer reports FAST chairman La’auli Leuatea Schmidt said on Friday evening that party lawyers are set to file the application on Monday.
At the close of the final count for by-election votes last week, Electoral Commissioner Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio, invoked the provision allowing two extra women members to be elected based on percentage of votes cast in the constituency for them.
The Head of State has issued writs of appointment for two Human Rights Protection Party members, Aliimalemanu Alofa Tu’uau and Fa’agaseali’I Sapo’a Feagia’i having the highest percentages of all women from the April General Elections and the by-elections last month.
FAST party advisors say that for Faimalomatumua to go ahead on both counts to issue election orders signed by the Head of State is illegal and will be questioned in court.
“We will file a motion on Monday,” said La’auli. “The caucus unanimously agreed on Thursday night to challenge the appointment of the two women added by the Office of the Electoral Commissioner.”
Meanwhile, Faimalomatumua, a lawyer and journalist by profession, resigned with immediate effect on Wednesday to take up the role of deputy President of the Land and Titles Court.
This prompted La’auli to accuse Faimalomatumua of “deliberately” activating the constitutional requirement “because he knew he was leaving.”
He likened the move to “a hit and run case.”
“He did this because of his political bias and it shows that he has no integrity and respect for our electoral system. It’s very disappointing.”
