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 22 February 1985. Voting was restricted to ''
matai'' and citizens of European origin ("individual voters"), with the Matai electing 45 MPs and Europeans two.
Dieter Nohlen
Dieter Nohlen (born 6 November 1939) is a German academic and political scientist. He currently holds the position of Emeritus Professor of Political Science in the Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences of the University of Heidelberg. An expe ...
, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) ''Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II'', p782 The result was a victory for 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 ...
, which won 31 seats.
[Govt. party has easy win in Samoa poll]
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', April 1985, p7 Its 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
...
, remained Prime Minister.
Results
Fifteen of the 47 elected MPs were new to the Legislative Assembly. Minister of Health
Lavea Lio lost his seat.
[
]
Aftermath
Following the elections, the HRPP held a two-day conference on 25–26 February, the HRPP re-elected Tofilau Eti Alesana as its candidate for Prime Minister.[ On 7 March, Va'ai Kolone resigned from the party.][Kolone resignation may upset Eti rule]
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', April 1985, p23 On 9 March the Legislative Assembly elected Alesana Prime Minister; he was the only candidate after Kolone declined to be nominated. Nonumalo Sofara was re-elected as Speaker.[
However, in December, Alesana's 1986 budget was rejected by the Assembly, with 27 votes against and 19 supporting. As the ]head of state
A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and l ...
refused to dissolve the Assembly, Alesana resigned as Prime Minister on 27 December. Va'ai Kolone, the leader of the opposition coalition, was then elected.[Apia: Vaai Kolone back as P.M.]
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', February 1986, p8
See also
* List of members of the Legislative Assembly of Western Samoa (1985–1988)
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