“E momoe ma manū, ae sau mala e atia’e’ is a Samoan proverb that most Samoans would be waking up to as the magnitude of political upheaval the country is plunging into settles in.
Late yesterday afternoon, the Head of State, Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II issued a statement declaring that the country would be heading to fresh elections.
“Today, by Writ, I directed the Office of the Electoral Commission to issue a Public Notice of the Writ for Election of Members of Parliament for all Constituencies and have appointed Friday 21st May 2021 as the day of Election,” he declared.
The Head of State also said he was revoking the Warrants of Appointments declaring the results of the general elections.
Tuimalealiifano had summoned caretaker Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and Faatuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi leader, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, yesterday morning to advise them he was planning to call fresh elections.
Fiame later went public with details of the meeting, preempting the Head of States fresh election call.
On a live stream press conference she said that after meeting with her party caucus, she wrote to the Head of State advising him that they do not support his planned action.
She said the Head of State should not call fresh elections but await the outcome of court action challenging the constitutionality of an additional female seat in the House effectively leaving a hung Parliament with each party having 26 seats.
Tuilaepa told media after the Head of State issued his statement that he had written to the Head of State saying his party caucus will go with the decision he makes.
Tuimalealiifano said that as politicians go about their political affairs and the Courts with their deliberations, the operation of the Government remains uncertain.
“By June 2021, the financial year 2020/2021 will come to an end, and with it the ability of Government to pay salaries of its employees, meet its expenses and pay for services including essential services such as health and education. If the 2021/2022 budget is not tabled and passed, it will have overreaching effects on the everyday functions of Government, including its ability to respond to the Covid 19 Pandemic and sustain its current responses,” he declared.
He said aside from the time consuming aspects of the 28 petitions and equal number of counter petitions, the number of petitions represents a concerning statistics about the conduct and practice of candidates for the 2021 General Elections.
“The 2021 General Elections has provided an insight into the robustness of our political system which is now in limbo. Of great interest is the influence from the Samoa diaspora through social media and innovative incentives. Only history will determine the extent of that influence on the 2021 General Elections, whether negatively or positively.”
The Supreme Court will hold the substantive hearing on the challenge by FAST on the female seat at 10 this morning.
