1996 Western Samoan general election

none February 2024 February 2024 Western Samoa parliamentary 1991 Western Samoan general election 1991 2001 Samoan general election 2001 All 49 seats in the Legislative Assembly 25 26 April 1996 130x130px Tofilau Eti Alesana.jpg Tofilau Eti Alesana Human Rights Protection Party 49.58%, 27 seats 24 3 29,353 43.54% 6.04Percentage point pp no Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Tufuga Efi 00 (cropped).jpg Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi Samoan National Development Party 21.25%, 15 seats 11 4 17,586 26.09% 4.84Percentage point pp no Western Samoa Labour Party WSLP To‘alepai Toesulusulu Si‘ueva Western Samoa Labour Party – 1 New 773 1.15% New Prime Minister Subsequent Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana Human Rights Protection Party Tofilau Eti Alesana Human Rights Protection Party General elections were held in Western Samoa on 26 April 1996 to determine the composition of the 12th Parliament. The election occurred following constitutional amendments that extended the parliamentary term from three to five years and increased parliament's seat count from 47 to 49. Five parties contested the election, including the governing Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), led by Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana and the main opposition, the Samoan National Development Party (SNDP), led by Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi. The HRPP's popularity suffered a setback due to Chief Auditor Sua Rimoni Ah Chong's 1994 report, which brought to light government corruption. While the SNDP campaigned on anti-corruption, the party's perceived failure to provide checks on the HRPP meant the governing party faced few obstacles to re-election. In the final results, no party won a majority. The HRPP won 24 seats, down from 34 before the election, the SNDP secured 11, and the newly formed Western Samoa Labour Party won a single seat. Independents saw a rise in support, with 13 entering parliament, reportedly due to many voters' disillusionment with both major parties. The HRPP and the SNDP negotiated with independents following the election to achieve a majority. The HRPP won the support of ten independents and remained in government. The Supreme Court later voided the election of five successful candidates, including four cabinet ministers and Labour Party Leader To‘alepai Toesulusulu Si‘ueva, after finding them guilty of bribery charges brought about by electoral petitions. Background During the previous election held in 1991, the ruling HRPP, led by Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana, won re-election with a simple majority of 27 seats in parliament. The opposition SNDP secured 15 seats, whilst independents won the remaining five.Asofou Soʻo 1993 7Asofou Soʻo 2001 790 The election was the first to occur since the passage of universal suffrage in a 1990 constitutional referendum, granting all citizens aged 21 and older the right to vote.Asofou Soʻo 1993 1 SNDP Leader Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi lost his seat;Asofou Soʻo 1993 10 however, after filing a successful electoral petition, he returned to Parliament after winning a subsequent by-election.Ioane Lafoaʻi 1991 72 Prime Minister Tofilau appointed the first woman to cabinet in the nation's history, Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa.https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122363072 First woman in Cabinet 7 The Canberra Times 16 May 1991 7 February 2024 National Library of Australia Apia 20 May 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210520181932/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122363072 live At the dissolution of parliament, the HRPP had a 16-seat majority.Peteru 1996b 52 In January 1994, the government introduced a value-added tax on services and goods, sparking widespread protests. This bill also led to demands that Prime Minister Alesana resign. The demonstration concluded after two months when the government agreed to omit the most contentious aspects of the bill.Elections Held in 1996 http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/2351_96.htm 7 February 2024 Inter-Parliamentary Union https://web.archive.org/web/20230415223146/http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/2351_96.htm 15 April 2023 live The same year, Chief Auditor Sua Rimoni Ah Chong released an annual report to parliament that exposed widespread government corruption, including mismanagement of public funds. The HRPP government responded by suspending Sua, and were cleared of any wrongdoing by the Supreme Court in January 1996.Zdanovich et al. 1997 255-256Former Samoan auditor wins TI Integrity Award https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/143612/former-samoan-auditor-wins-ti-integrity-award 7 February 2024 RNZ 16 May 2003 https://web.archive.org/web/20210922030437/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/143612/former-samoan-auditor-wins-ti-integrity-award 22 September 2021 live Electoral system At the 1996 general election, the Legislative Assembly was composed of 49 members, serving a term of up to five years. Amendments to the Electoral Act in 1991 added a seat to two single-member constituencies, increasing the parliamentary seat count from 47 to 49 and extending the parliamentary term from three to five years.Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 14 Of the 42 constituencies, 35 elected a single member, while six of the larger constituencies elected two representatives and were entitled to cast two ballots. Two members represented the nationwide individual voters constituency and were elected by voters with either partial Samoan ancestry or those who were not ethnic Samoans.Asofou Soʻo 2001 783 Eligible candidates were required to hold a Matai title (except for contestants of the individual voters' seats), be a citizen of Western Samoa and be an enrolled voter.Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 8 Contestants must also have resided in the country for at least 12 months before the election.Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 13 A further amendment to the Electoral Act in 1995 required candidates to disclose their party affiliation.Peteru 1996b 52Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 23 Ineligible individuals included those convicted of a crime in Western Samoa and American Samoa and sentenced to at least two years or the death penalty.Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 8 Civil servants were required to resign to contest the election.1963 Legislative Assembly of Samoa Electoral Act 16 3 Part http://oec.gov.ws/Portals/180/documents/Electoral%20Act%201963/ELECTORAL%20ACT%201963%20Eng.pdf 7 February 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20140623000309/http://oec.gov.ws/Portals/180/documents/Electoral%20Act%201963/ELECTORAL%20ACT%201963%20Eng.pdf 23 June 2014 live With the introduction of Universal Suffrage in 1990, all citizens aged 21 and older had the right to vote.Haley et al. 2017 19 Voters could elect to enrol in a constituency rather than the one where they reside by right of significant family ties or matai titles.Haley et al. 2017 22 Individuals who wished to vote outside their constituencies on election day were entitled to cast a special vote.1963 Legislative Assembly of Samoa Electoral Act 65 8 Part http://oec.gov.ws/Portals/180/documents/Electoral%20Act%201963/ELECTORAL%20ACT%201963%20Eng.pdf 7 February 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20140623000309/http://oec.gov.ws/Portals/180/documents/Electoral%20Act%201963/ELECTORAL%20ACT%201963%20Eng.pdf 23 June 2014 live As prescribed by an amendment to the Electoral Act in 1990, voters required identification cards issued by the government to cast their ballots.Asofou Soʻo 1993 6Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 15 A 1995 amendment to the electoral introduced an inquiry to occur on all enrolled voters during the revision of the electoral roll in the year of a parliamentary dissolution. Electors who failed to sign and return the inquiry forms risked being removed from the roll.Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 12 A total of 77,964 voters registered for the 1996 election, an increase from 59,299 in 1991.Asofou Soʻo 2001 789 Parties and candidates In addition to the governing Human Rights Protection Party, led by Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana and the opposition Samoan National Development Party, headed by former Prime Minister Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi, three other newly founded parties contested the election.Asofou Soʻo 2008a 160-161Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 23 Former Health Minister To‘alepai Toesulusulu Si‘ueva formed the Western Samoa Labour Party in 1993, which aimed to provide a more "effective" opposition, in contrast to the SNDP. Leota Itu‘au Ale, deputy leader of the SNDP, defected from the party in 1995 over a disagreement with the SNDP's leadership and formed the Samoan Conservative Progressive Party (SCPP). Meanwhile, in March 1996, HRPP MP Matatumua Maimoana left the governing party, citing the deterioration of the country's education system and alleged government corruption, and established the Samoa All People's Party (SAPP). She became the first woman to lead a Western Samoan political party since independence. The SAPP was notable for allowing individuals as young as 16 to hold party positions. Another party, the Samoa Liberal Party (SLP), was formed in 1993 by three former HRPP members who had been expelled from the party after voting against the aspects of the government budget that year.Asofou Soʻo 2008b 193-194 Shortly before the election, the SLP merged into the SNDP, which SLP Leader Nonumalo Leulumoega Sofara said was due to the two parties sharing similar policy views.Zdanovich et al. 1997 259Asofou Soʻo 2008b 193-194 A total of 163 candidates contested the election. The HRPP fielded 57, while 42 were from the SNDP. The SAPP had seven candidates, while Labour and the SCPP each fielded a single contestant. The other 55 parliamentary hopefuls were independents.Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 23 PartyLeaderCandidatesFounded1991 seatsHuman Rights Protection Party Tofilau Eti Alesana 57 1979 27 47 Human Rights Protection PartySamoan National Development Party Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi 42 1988 15 47 Samoan National Development PartyWestern Samoa Labour Party To‘alepai Toesulusulu Si‘ueva 1 1993Not yet foundedSamoan Conservative Progressive Party Leota Itu‘au Ale 1 1995Samoa All People's Party Matatumua Maimoana 7 1996Independents 55 5 47 Independent politician Campaign Despite concerns about Prime Minister Alesana's health problems, especially as he only returned to Western Samoa just 12 days before the election after receiving treatment in New Zealand,Peteru 1996b 53Zdanovich et al. 1997 258 he remained party leader. HRPP insiders viewed the prime minister's continuation as the party head as vital to preventing the possibility of infighting between his potential successors,Peteru 1996a including Deputy Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi and his rival, Agriculture Minister Misa Telefoni Retzlaff,Peteru 1996b 53 which would, in turn, likely cause the party to fracture.Peteru 1996a During the campaign, the HRPP emphasised its achievements in government. However, Chief Auditor Sua's report exposing alleged government corruption eroded the HRPP's popularity.Peteru 1996a The SNDP pledged to establish an anti-corruption commission to introduce a code of conduct for the government ministries and their heads and investigate government corruption. The party also advocated for the repeal of the value-added tax along with introducing an accountable and transparent government financial system. The perception of the SNDP as an ineffective opposition, shared by much of the public, reportedly undermined the party's chances of ousting the HRPP government.Peteru 1996a The Labour Party sought to deliver a more "effective" alternative to the SNDP and claimed their "mute" strategies had resulted in the HRPP attaining unchecked power.Asofou Soʻo 2008b 194 Anti-corruption and fulfilling the basic needs of citizens were central aspects of Labour's campaign,Peteru 1996b 53 with Party Leader To‘alepai Toesulusulu Si‘ueva describing himself as "Moses leading his people to the promised land" and as a "future prime minister".Peteru 1996c Conduct The dissolution of the 11th Parliament occurred on 22 March 1996, approximately 13 days before it was due to expire.Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 5 Per the electoral act, voting commenced at 9:00 and concluded at 15:00;Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 34 however, voters who were still waiting in queues by the time voting officially ended were handed special cards by polling staff, allowing them to cast their votes.Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 35 Voting was reportedly orderly and peaceful, although there were delays with the tallying of ballots; the chief electoral officer said this was due to the significant increase in voters on the electoral roll. Results Preliminary results showed the HRPP losing its 34-seat majority, leading in 23 seats, the SNDP led in 12, while independents led in 13. On the evening of the election, Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana declared victory, claiming that some independent candidates had joined the HRPP. Following legal cases and judicial recounts in some constituencies, the official results were released on 15 May.Zdanovich et al. 1997 259-260 The HRPP won 24 seats, down from 27 in 1991,Asofou Soʻo 2001 790 confirming it had lost the majority it enjoyed before the election,Peteru 1996b 52 although it remained the largest party. The SNDP secured 11 seats, a decrease from 15 in the previous election, while independents saw an increase, winning 13 seats.Asofou Soʻo 2001 790 The only other party to win a seat was Labour, whose leader and sole candidate narrowly defeated Parliamentary Speaker Afamasaga Fatu Vaili.Peteru 1996b 52 Two candidates won their seats unopposed,Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 22 while four women secured seats. The less-than-ideal showings for the HRPP and the SNDP, along with a rise in support for independents, reportedly reflected much of the public's disillusionment with both major parties, which newly elected independent MP La Tagaloa Pita characterised as a "protest vote".Peteru 1996b 52 File:Western Samoa Fono 1996.svg Human Rights Protection Party 29353 24 −3 Samoan National Development Party 17586 11 −4 Samoa All People's Party 889 0 New Western Samoa Labour Party 773 1 New Samoan Conservative Progressive Party 359 0 New Independents 18454 13 +8 294 +2   Total ballots cast 77964 Nohlen et al. Aftermath Following the election, the HRPP and the SNDP began negotiations with independents, who held the balance of power, to form a government. Labour Party Leader To‘alepai Toesulusulu Si‘ueva claimed most successful independent candidates were vulnerable to "questionable deals" from both major parties, as they were "broke" due to the depletion of their finances from campaigning; there were no limits on candidates' campaign finances.Peteru 1996b 53 The HRPP remained in government after winning over ten independents, regaining its 34-seat majority. Prime Minister Tofilau and his cabinet were sworn in by the O le Ao o le Malo, Malietoa Tanumafili II, on 19 May.Zdanovich et al. 1997 260 Some unsuccessful candidates filed electoral petitions after the election against their victorious opponents. Of the 17 petitions, 16 alleged corrupt practices on the part of the winning contestant, including bribery and treatment, while one disputed the validity of the results in a constituency. Seven petitions were withdrawn before any went to trial after petitioners and their opponents held customary meetings, along with their respective supporters. On the other hand, petitioners who failed to reach an agreement or did not meet with their rivals saw their petitions go to trial. The Supreme Court dismissed five petitions, while the other five were successful. Four cabinet ministers lost their seats after they were found guilty of bribery, brought about by petitions.Peteru 1996c Labour Party Leader To‘alepai Toesulusulu Si‘ueva resigned his seat after his opponent, former Speaker Vaili, filed a petition alleging bribery. The Supreme Court later upheld the charge and counter-charges against the former speaker.Asofou Soʻo 1998Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 48 Overall, once the Supreme Court had processed all electoral petitions and all subsequent by-elections had occurred, the HRPP's seat count had increased to 35, the SNDP's remaining at 11, there were three independents and Labour was left with no parliamentary representation.Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 50 See also List of members of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa (1996–2001) References Bibliography 35em Fetuao Toia Alama General Elections 1991, 1996 & 2001 Report http://www.parliament.gov.ws/documents/general_info/General_Election_1991%2C_1996_&_2001_Report.pdf www.parliament.gov.ws Office of the Chief Electoral Officer 7 February 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20061002034452/http://www.parliament.gov.ws/documents/general_info/General_Election_1991%2C_1996_%26_2001_Report.pdf 2 October 2006 2003 dead Haley Ng Shiu Baker Zubrinich Carter Salā George 2016 Samoa General Election http://ssgm.bellschool.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/uploads/2017-11/samoa_election_report_2016_0.pdf Australian National University 22 7 February 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20190401093124/http://ssgm.bellschool.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/uploads/2017-11/samoa_election_report_2016_0.pdf 1 April 2019 August 2017 dead Haley et al. 2017 Ioane Lafoaʻi Universal Suffrage in Western Samoa: A Political Review Journal of Pacific History 1991 26 3 67–73 Taylor & Francis 10.1080/00223349108572684 25169098 https://www.jstor.org/stable/25169098 7 February 2024 subscription Peteru Chris Who's next PM? Pacific Islands Monthly 1 January 1996a 66 1 58 https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-343288765/view?partId=nla.obj-343335021#page/n57/mode/1up 7 February 2024 National Library of Australia Peteru Chris A balancing act Pacific Islands Monthly 1 June 1996b 66 6 52–53 https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-343537447/view?partId=nla.obj-343561821#page/n52/mode/1up 7 February 2024 National Library of Australia Peteru Chris Wages of corruption Pacific Islands Monthly 1 November 1996c 66 11 32 https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-343794589/view?partId=nla.obj-343821360#page/n31/mode/1up 7 February 2024 National Library of Australia Asofou Soʻo Democracy and Custom in Samoa: An Uneasy Alliance 2008a IPS Publications, University of the South Pacific Suva, Fiji 978-982-02-0390-7 Asofou Soʻo Polynesia in Review: Samoa Contemporary Pacific 1998 10 1 222 https://www.proquest.com/docview/201676185 7 February 2024 subscription University of Hawaii Press Honolulu 201676185 Asofou Soʻo Universal Suffrage in Western Samoa: The 1991 General Elections 1993 Australian National University Canberra 0731515463 https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/133716/1/Universal_Suffrage_in_Western_Samoa.pdf 7 February 2024 Asofou Soʻo Dieter Nohlen Elections in Asia and the Pacific : A Data Handbook Volume II: South East Asia, East Asia, and the South Pacific 15 November 2001 Oxford University Press 0199249598 779–794 Samoa Asofou Soʻo Rich Roland Hambly Luke Morgan Michael Political parties in the Pacific Islands 2008b Australian National University Press Canberra 1921313757 185–206 The Establishment and Operation of Samoa's Political Party System Zdanovich Crocombe Crocombe Von Strokirch Mutu Levine James Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 1995 to 30 June 1996 The Contemporary Pacific 1997 9 1 218–260 https://www.jstor.org/stable/23706790 7 February 2024 subscription University of Hawaii Press 23706790 1043-898X Zdanovich et al. 1997 Category:Elections in Samoa Western Samoa General Category:Election and referendum articles with incomplete results