General elections were held in
Western Samoa
Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands ( Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands ( Manono and Apolima); a ...
on 27 February 1982. The
Human Rights Protection Party
The Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP, sm, Vaega Faaupufai e Puipuia Aia Tatau a Tagata) is a Samoan political party. It was founded in 1982 and dominated Samoan party politics for decades thereafter, leading every government until their defea ...
won 22 of the 47 seats in the
Legislative Assembly and was able to form a government after three independents voted for its leader,
Va'ai Kolone, in the vote for Prime Minister.
Electoral system
The Legislative Assembly consisted of 45 Samoan members elected from 41 one or two-member constituencies and two 'individual voters' elected from a nationwide two-member constituency. Voting in the Samoan constituencies was restricted to
Matai, while only citizens of European origin could vote in the individual voters constituency. Only around 15,567 people were enfranchised from a population of around 160,000.
Results
HRPP candidates won 22 seats, 11 of which were newcomers to the Legislative Assembly. MPs who had supported the government of
Tupuola Efi won 11 seats. Several sitting MPs lost their seats, including Economic Affairs Minister
Letiu Tamatoa, Speaker
Tuuu Faletoese, Deputy Speaker
Aeau Taulupoo and five HRPP members.
Aftermath
In the vote for Prime Minister on 13 April, HRPP leader Va'ai Kolone defeated Tupuola Efi by 24 votes to 23.
Aiono Nonumalo Sofara of the HRPP was elected Speaker by the same margin, defeating
Asi Faamatala.
In June. a court annulled the result in
Vaimauga East after finding the winning candidate –
Fuataga Laulu, who was subsequently appointed Minister of Education – guilty of treating voters. Later in the year the result in Kolone's seat was also annulled after a court decided his campaign had been illegal. Tupuola Efi subsequently became Prime Minister in his place. Efi offered cabinet portfolios to new HRPP leader
Tofilau Eti Alesana
Tofilau Eti Alesana, AC, born Aualamalefalelima Alesana (4 June 1924 – 19 March 1999) was a Samoan politician who served as the fifth prime minister of Samoa from 1982 to 1985, and again from 1988 until his resignation in 1998.
Biography
...
and
Le Mamea Ropati
Tuiletufuga Le Mamea Ropati Mualia is a Samoan politician, and member of the Council of Deputies. Over his career he has served as a Cabinet Minister, Leader of the Opposition and represented the constituency for Lefaga & Falese'ela for over thi ...
, but they refused to attend the swearing-in ceremony in protest at Kolone's removal from office.
W. Samoa: HRPP men refuse portfolios
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', November 1982, p5 However, Efi resigned in December after the government budget was rejected and was replaced as Prime Minister by Eti Alesana.[Third PM in year for W. Samoa]
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', February 1983, p15 Kolone returned to parliament in January after winning the by-election for his former seat.[
]
See also
* List of members of the Legislative Assembly of Western Samoa (1982–1985)
References
{{Samoan elections
Western Samoa
Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands ( Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands ( Manono and Apolima); a ...
General
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...
Elections in Samoa
Election and referendum articles with incomplete results