1979 Western Samoan general election

General elections were held in Western Samoa on 24 February 1979. Voting was restricted to matai and citizens of European origin ("individual voters"), with the Matai electing 45 MPs and Europeans two.[1] Although all candidates ran as independents, an opposition bloc had emerged following the 1976 election of Tupuola Efi as Prime Minister in Parliament.

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Background

Prior to the elections, around 1,500 matai had their titles removed by the registrar of the Land and Titles Court.[2] However, after intervention of head of state Malietoa Tanumafili II, the titles were restored.[2]

Around a week before the elections, the Department of the Prime Minister issued a statement stating that three MPs had been meeting with an American firm the government considered to be dishonest. The three MPs, Tofilau Eti Alesana, Fa'aso'otauloa Pualagi and Sala Suivai, later revealed themselves and claimed the issue was being used against them.[3]

Results

Of the 47 elected members, 26 were new to the Legislative Assembly. Incumbents losing their seats included Minister of Education Lilomaiava Niko.[3] Alesana, Pualagi and Suivai were all re-elected.[3]

Party Votes % Seats
Independents10,11410047
Invalid/blank votes95––
Total10,20910047
Registered voters/turnout13,863–
Source: Nohlen et al.

Aftermath

Although candidates who had pledged to elect Va'ai Kolone as Prime Minister won a majority of seats,[4] Tupuola Efi was re-elected as Prime Minister on 28 March, defeating Kolone by 24 votes to 23.[5] The same voting pattern occurred in the elections for Speaker and Deputy Speaker, with Tuuu Faletoese elected Speaker with 24 votes to the 23 received by Leota Ale and Aeau Taulupoo defeating Toleafoa Talitimu by the same margin for the deputy speakership.[6] The opposition members formed the Human Rights Protection Party with Kolone as its leader.

Efi cabinet
PositionMinister
Prime MinisterTupuola Efi
Minister of AgricultureSeumanu Aita Ah Wa
Minister of Economic DevelopmentLetiu Tamatoa
Minister of EducationFuimaono Mimio
Minister of FinanceVaovasamanaia Filipo
Minister of HealthFaumuina Anapapa
Minister of JusticeAsi Eikeni
Minister of Lands and SurveyLesatele Rapi
Minister of WorksSeuamuli Kurene

In May Chief Justice Bryan Nicholson annulled the results in four constituencies due to bribery, with the four members – George Lober, Le Tagaloa Pita, Letiu Tamatoa (Minister of Economic Development) and Muliagatele Vena – losing their seats. Three of them (Lober, Tamatoa and) Vena were supporters of Efi. By-elections were held on 18 August, in which Lober and Tamatoa were re-elected, Vena lost his seat to Pule Lameko, but Pita was defeated by Efi supporter Mapuilesua Pelenato, giving Efi his 24–23 majority back.[7] Following the loss of his majority, Efi avoided a potential vote of no confidence by not calling a parliamentary session until November.[8]

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See also

References
  1. Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p782 ISBN 0-19-924959-8
  2. W. Samoa: A matter of matai Pacific Islands Monthly, January 1979, p11
  3. 26 new faces in Apia's Fono Pacific Islands Monthly, April 1979, p25
  4. Tupuola Efi under threat Pacific Islands Monthly, April 1979, p7
  5. Tupuola heeds a warning Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1979, p41
  6. Apia's on the party line Pacific Islands Monthly, June 1979, p23
  7. As you were in W Samoa? Pacific Islands Monthly, October 1979, p22
  8. New politics in W. Samoa Pacific Islands Monthly, April 1980, p19
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