
Some former members of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) in Samoa have broken away to set up a new political party, claiming they were no longer needed by their former alliance.
Samoa Observer reports the Samoa Labor Party has officially registered with the Office of the Electoral Commission, joining five other political parties preparing to contest the August general elections.
President Faaolesa Katopau Ainu’u, a former Justice Minister under the last HRPP cabinet, said the formation of the party was upon the realization that HRPP has already selected their candidates from certain districts without informing them.
“This is not in retaliation with HRPP, but we believe we still have something to contribute to Samoa, and unfortunately, HRPP believes otherwise,” he added.
Faaolesa said the new party respects the direction where HRPP is heading and will not speak ill of other parties.
Other political parties already registered with OEC include HRPP, Fa’atuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST), Samoa Uniting Party or Samoa Ua Potopoto (SUP), Samoa National Democratic Party (SNDP) and Democracy Republic Party.
Photo: Samoa Observer