2001 Samoan general election

none September 2023 September 2023 Samoa parliamentary 1996 Western Samoan general election 1996 2006 Samoan general election 2006 All 49 seats in the Legislative Assembly 25 2 March 2001 130x130px Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi (cropped)1.jpg Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi Human Rights Protection Party 43.54%, 24 seats 23 1 34,262 44.82% 1.28pp Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Tufuga Efi 00 (cropped).jpg Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi Samoan National Development Party 26.09%, 11 seats 13 2 17,966 23.50% 2.59pp Samoan United People's Party SUPP Samoan United People's Party – 1 New 1,898 2.48% New Results by constituency Prime Minister Subsequent Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi Human Rights Protection Party Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi Human Rights Protection Party General elections were held in Samoa on 2 March 2001 to determine the composition of the 13th Parliament.Nohlen et al. 2001 782 Four parties contested the election, including the ruling Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) and the main opposition Samoan National Development Party (SNDP). The HRPP was led into the election by Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi, who succeeded Tofilau Eti Alesana in 1998 following his resignation. No party won a majority; the HRPP secured the most seats, winning 23, while the SNDP won 13. The newly formed Samoan United People's Party (SUPP) won a single seat, and 12 independents were successful. Following the election, the HRPP won the support of four independents, including three non-member party affiliates, allowing it to remain in government. SNDP Leader Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi resigned shortly after the party's loss and was succeeded by Le Mamea Ropati. The Supreme Court later voided the election of five members of parliament, after finding them guilty of charges brought about by electoral petitions. Background During the previous election held in 1996, the governing HRPP won 24 seats, losing its pre-election majority, although it remained the largest party. The main opposition, the Samoan National Development Party, secured 11 seats, and the newly formed Western Samoa Labour Party won a single seat. Independents saw a rise in support, with 13 entering parliament; the decline in support for both major parties was reportedly due to the HRPP's 1994 corruption scandal and the widespread perception of the SNDP as an ineffective opposition.Nohlen et al. 2001 785Peteru Chris A balancing act Pacific Islands Monthly 1 June 1996 66 6 52–53 https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-343537447/view?partId=nla.obj-343561821#page/n52/mode/1up 11 June 2024 National Library of Australia In 1997, parliament voted to change the country's name from Western Samoa to Samoa. Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana argued an official change was necessary to resolve a naming inconsistency, as numerous organisations worldwide, including the United Nations, referred to the nation simply as Samoa. The prime minister alleged that Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi, the opposition leader and a former prime minister, was responsible for the inconsistency, having ordered a change in the name used at the United Nations. Efi opposed the change, arguing it risked offending American Samoans, as the name Samoa may have originated outside Western Samoa. The opposition leader also claimed the motion was a distraction from a passport scandal that surfaced in the same year, where the government had been illegally selling Samoan passports to Chinese and Taiwanese nationals.Asofou Soʻo 1998 While the governor of American Samoa, Tauese Sunia, expressed no issue with the modification, many American Samoans believed the change would undermine the territory's identity.http://www.pireport.org/articles/1997/07/31/american-samoa-concern-over-western-samoas-name-change-samoa Pacific Islands Report American Samoa Concern Over Western Samoa's Name Change to Samoa 11 September 2021 31 July 1997 https://web.archive.org/web/20210911010838/http://www.pireport.org/articles/1997/07/31/american-samoa-concern-over-western-samoas-name-change-samoa 11 September 2021 deadSamoan History https://ws.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/policy-history/samoan-history/ U.S. Embassy in Samoa 19 June 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220513160552/https://ws.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/policy-history/samoan-history/ 13 May 2022 dead In 1998, Alesana resigned as prime minister and leader of the HRPP due to ill health, he was succeeded by Tuila‘epa Sa‘ilele Malielegaoi. Alesana remained in cabinet as a minister without portfolio until his death in 1999.Role of former P.M. Tofilau acknowledged https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/25019 11 June 2024 Samoa Observer 3 May 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20240611004802/https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/25019 11 June 2024 liveAsofou Soʻo 2006 356 Electoral system During the time of the 2001 election, Samoa's parliament, the legislative assembly, was composed of 49 seats, with each member serving a five year term. Thirty-five members were elected from single-member constituencies, six constituencies elected two members, whilst the other two were elected through individual voters, mostly non-ethnic Samoans and individuals with partial Samoan ancestry. Candidates were elected using the First-past-the-post voting system. Only Matai (Chiefs) were permitted to contest any of the 47 constituencies, whilst the other two seats were open to all individuals.Electoral System http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2351_B.htm IPU 13 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20190130152907/http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2351_B.htm 30 January 2019 liveAsofou Soʻo 1993 3 The controversial Electoral Amendment act, which came into effect in 2000, required candidates to have resided in Samoa for at least three years to qualify as a candidate. Previously, the requirement was 12 months. Civil servants were not allowed to run. Voters The government introduced Universal suffrage in 1991, granting Samoan citizens aged 21 and older the right to vote. Voters could elect to enrol in a constituency rather than the one where they reside by right of significant family ties or matai titles. As a result, the population of constituencies and the constituency's voter roll have not always correlated.Haley et al. 2017 19,22 Cabinet amended the 1963 electoral act in August 2000, establishing the register of voters as a separate entity from the legislative assembly. The 2001 election was the first in which it was compulsory for all eligible individuals to register to vote. The new register of voters commenced the enrollment of electors in October 2000. There were only two registration centres where individuals could enrol or update their details, with one each at Mulinuu on Upolu, and Savaiʻi. Due to the centres being severely understaffed, the process was reportedly chaotic, with long queues, and many voters waited for several hours. One person died while in line, and several fights broke out due to discontent over the process. As a result, Health Minister Misa Telefoni Retzlaff unsuccessfully called for the election's postponement. At the closure of voter registration on 19 January 2001, a total of 92,788 voters were registered.Asofou Soʻo 2002 225-227 Overseas voting Although more Samoans resided outside Samoa than in the country around the time of the election, the HRPP government refused to entertain overseas voting. Prime Minister Tuila‘epa expressed his opposition to allowing "outsiders" to participate in the electoral process and said that "they (Samoans abroad) don't understand, and they don't feel the pain serving Samoa day in and day out." The prime minister also stated that if overseas ballots were allowed, "Parliament might as well be moved from Mulinuu to Canberra." Opposition Leader Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi, opposed the government's decision due to the Samoan diaspora's significant contribution to the economy through remittance funds.Asofou Soʻo 2002 227 Schedule On the advice of the prime minister, the O le Ao o le Malo (head of state), Malietoa Tanumafili II, signed a declaration on 22 January 2001, ordering the dissolution of the 12th Parliament, which went into effect the following day. Voter registration closed on 19 January. The O le Ao o le Malo issued the writ for the election on 30 January. The deadline for candidates to register or withdraw was on 16 February, and the return of the writ occurred on 18 March.Asofou Soʻo 2002 225-227Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 5-6 DateEvent19 January Registration for voters closes23 JanuaryThe 12th Parliament is dissolved 30 January O le Ao o le Malo issues Writ for the election 16 FebruaryCandidate nominations close2 MarchElection day18 MarchWrit for the election returned Parties and candidates Four parties contested the election, including the governing Human Rights Protection Party, led by Prime Minister Tuila‘epa Sa‘ilele Malielegaoi, and the main opposition Samoan National Development Party, led by Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi. The Samoa All People's Party (SAPP) and the newly formed Samoa United People's Party (SUPP), which registered with the electoral commission a month before the poll, also participated.Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 23 A total of 153 candidates competed in the election, a slight decrease from the 163 in 1996. The HRPP fielded 55, while 33 were affiliated with the SNDP. The SUPP stood five candidates, the SAPP had one contestant, and the other 59 were independents.Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 23 Among the independents were five HRPP affiliates who were challenging incumbents from the party; they were, therefore, not permitted to run as members of the HRPP due to the party's policy of endorsing incumbents over challengers.Haley et al. 2017 34 Nine candidates were women; four were HRPP members, while the other five were independents.Asofou Soʻo 2002 224 PartyLeaderCandidatesFounded1996 seatsHuman Rights Protection Party Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi 55 1979 24 49 Human Rights Protection PartySamoan National Development Party Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi 33 1988 11 49 Samoan National Development PartySamoa All People's Party Matatumua Maimoana 1 1996 0 49 Samoa All People's PartySamoan United People's Party 5 2001 Independents 58 13 49 Independent politician Campaign Party manifestos rarely featured in previous elections; however, the 2001 poll saw an increased presence of political manifestos. Both the HRPP and SNDP published one, and it was the first election in which the HRPP had a clearly defined platform. Despite this, public engagement with the party platforms was low, and some voters reported that the manifestos were not widely available. Many candidates chose to campaign on their record and what they aimed to accomplish as individuals if elected, and often did not make mention of their party's policies or their party affiliation altogether. Significant issues of concern among voters included infrastructure, rural development, healthcare and education.Vaʻa et al. 2006 73,74,110 The HRPP campaigned on increasing foreign aid to improve the country's infrastructure. The party also announced its intentions to boost the economy and improve the health and education sectors. The prime minister claimed the opposition SNDP could not provide a credible alternative to the HRPP and the Samoan people.Vaʻa et al. 2006 137Samoans Gearing Up for Friday Election http://www.pireport.org/articles/2001/03/01/samoans-gearing-friday-election Pacific Islands Report 22 November 2021 1 March 2001 https://web.archive.org/web/20190927024133/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2001/03/01/samoans-gearing-friday-election 27 September 2019 dead The SNDP platform focused on reforming the government and ceasing corruption. Opposition Leader Efi and the party proposed the establishment of a special task force to end corruption within the government and that independent commissions of inquiry investigate government scandals, including 1997 passports scandal and the controversial dismissal of Chief Auditor Su‘a Rimoni Ah Chong.Election Guide https://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/1309/ 11 September 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210911010829/https://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/1309/ 11 September 2021 liveSAMOA Parliamentary Chamber: Fono - Legislative Assembly http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/2351_01.htm IPU 22 November 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20190217142348/http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/2351_01.htm 17 February 2019 liveVaʻa et al. 2006 138 The opposition leader blamed the HRPP administration for the mishandling of the state-owned Polynesian Airlines, which he claimed led to an increase in the nation's debt. The party carried out weekly press conferences criticising the government. Malielegaoi predicted that the HRPP would retain power. Conduct On election day, polling stations were open from 9:00 to 15:00.Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 34 Voters still queuing to vote at 15:00 were handed special cards by polling staff, allowing them to cast their ballots. Voting was reportedly peaceful and orderly,Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 35 despite intense weather in Upolu and Western Savaiʻi in the final hours of voting.Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 34 The preliminary count was completed on election day, and the official count began on 3 March and concluded ten days later.Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 36 Results The official results were released on 12 March.Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 36 The HRPP won the most seats but fell short of a majority, securing 23, similar to the 24 seats it won in the previous election. The SNDP secured 13, an increase of two compared to its seat share in 1996; one SUPP member was successful, and 12 independents were elected. One member was elected unopposed. Three women won representation; two were newcomers, while Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa was the only incumbent female candidate to win re-election. Half of the MPs in the new parliament were newcomers or former members.Asofou Soʻo 2002 224-225 Two cabinet ministers were unseated.Vaʻa et al. 2006 86 File:Samoa Fono 2001.svg Human Rights Protection Party 34262 23 −1 Samoan National Development Party 17966 13 +2 Samoan United People's Party 1898 1 New Samoa All People's Party 10 0 0 Independents 22315 12 −1 360 0   Total ballots cast 92791 Nohlen et al. Aftermath Following the election, four independents joined the HRPP, permitting it to remain in government. Three of these new HRPP members had pledged to join the party if they were victorious, while one had intended to join whichever party won the most seats.Asofou Soʻo 2002 225-227HRPP Reclaims Control of Samoa Government, Tuilaepa Still Prime Minister http://www.pireport.org/articles/2001/03/16/hrpp-reclaims-control-samoa-government-tuilaepa-still-prime-minister Pacific Islands Report 22 November 2021 16 March 2001 https://web.archive.org/web/20211122005500/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2001/03/16/hrpp-reclaims-control-samoa-government-tuilaepa-still-prime-minister 22 November 2021 dead The HRPP caucus elected Health Minister Misa Telefoni Retzlaff as the party's deputy leader, he subsequently became deputy prime minister. Both positions had been vacant since Malielegaoi assumed office as prime minister in 1998. The prime minister claimed the appointment undercut rumours that Misa intended to leave the HRPP and form a new opposition party.Samoa's Tuilaepa Returns as HRPP Leader; Misa Elected Deputy Leader http://www.pireport.org/articles/2001/03/14/samoa%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%99s-tuilaepa-returns-hrpp-leader-misa-elected-deputy-leader Pacific Islands Report 22 November 2021 14 March 2001 https://web.archive.org/web/20211121233500/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2001/03/14/samoaâ%C2%80%C2%99s-tuilaepa-returns-hrpp-leader-misa-elected-deputy-leader 21 November 2021 deadhttps://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/19026 Misa becomes new Minister of Finance Samoa Observer 22 November 2021 20 March 2001 https://web.archive.org/web/20200919185059/https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/article/19026 19 September 2020 live The O le Ao o le Malo, Malietoa Tanumafili II, officially opened the 13th parliamentary session on 19 March 2001. The SNDP demanded a second recount in 20 constituencies, claiming the initial vote tally and the original recount were flawed.Samoa Opposition Allegdes Foul Play in Election Vote Recount http://www.pireport.org/articles/2001/03/16/samoa-opposition-alleges-foul-play-election-vote-count Pacific Islands Report 22 November 2021 16 March 2001 https://web.archive.org/web/20180720041215/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2001/03/16/samoa-opposition-alleges-foul-play-election-vote-count 20 July 2018 deadSamoa Opposition Claims Voting Irregularities http://www.pireport.org/articles/2001/03/15/samoa-opposition-claims-voting-irregularities Pacific Islands Report 22 November 2021 15 March 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211122011218/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2001/03/15/samoa-opposition-claims-voting-irregularities 22 November 2021 dead Efi resigned as leader of both the opposition and the SNDP, he was succeeded by Le Mamea Ropati.Now Another Opposition Leader in Samoa http://www.pireport.org/articles/2001/03/21/now-another-opposition-leader-samoa Pacific Islands Report 22 November 2021 21 March 2001 https://web.archive.org/web/20201124004055/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2001/03/21/now-another-opposition-leader-samoa 24 November 2020 dead Some unsuccessful candidates filed electoral petitions against their victorious opponents. Of the ten petitions, five alleged corrupt practices on the part of the winning contestant, including bribery and treating and three challenged the eligibility of candidates. One alleged a successful candidate's victory was carried by the votes of ineligible voters, while another petition claimed the results in a constituency were invalid. Before the courts tried any petitions, one was withdrawnFetuao Toia Alama 2003 48 after the petitioner, Afamasaga Fa‘amatala Tole‘afoa, reached an understanding with the defendant, Fagafagamanuli‘i Therese McCarthy, agreeing to reconcile due to their shared affiliation with the United Independents bloc (later the Samoan United Independents Party, SUIP). McCarthy also withdrew a counter-petition.Asofou Soʻo 2002 231 The courts dismissed four petitions, while it upheld five - voiding the results in these constituencies.Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 48 After the courts processed all the petitions and the occurrence of all subsequent by-elections, the HRPP seat share had risen to 29, the SNDP's total remained at 13, and independents occupied the rest.Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 50 Parties in parliament are required to have at least eight seats to attain recognition as a parliamentary party;Asofou Soʻo 2008 197 because the SUPP fell short of this threshold, the party's sole MP was classified as an independent.Fetuao Toia Alama 2003 50 See also List of members of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa (2001–2006) 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 19 January 2022 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 11 June 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 Nohlen Dieter Elections in Asia and the Pacific : A Data Handbook Volume II: South East Asia, East Asia, and the South Pacific 2001 Oxford University Press 0199249598 779–794 Nohlen et al. 2001 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 11 September 2021 Asofou Soʻo Polynesia in review: Samoa Contemporary Pacific 1998 10 1 222 https://www.proquest.com/docview/201676185/823AF1E34AF34D26PQ/1?sourcetype=Scholarly%20Journals 11 June 2024 subscription University of Hawaii Press Honolulu Samoa in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001 https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/958556b0-3cca-4eaa-b1e4-ece6a937c43c/content Asofou Soʻo The Contemporary Pacific 14 1 224-236 2002 3 December 2022 Asofou Soʻo Rich Roland Hambly Luke Morgan Michael Political parties in the Pacific Islands 2008 Australian National University Press Canberra 1921313757 185–206 The Establishment and Operation of Samoa's Political Party System Asofou Soʻo Firth Stewart Globalisation and Governance in the Pacific Islands: State, Society and Governance in Melanesia 2006 Australian National University Press 349-362 https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt2jbj6w.22 11 June 2024 More Than 20 Years of Political Stability in Samoa under the Human Rights Protection Party Leatuaolevao Ruby Vaʻa Gatoloaifaʻana Tili Afamasaga Emma Kruse Vaʻai Esther Batiri Williams The 2001 Samoa General Elections 2006 982-01-0699-0 Samoa Distance and Flexible Learning Centre, University of the South Pacific Vaʻa et al. 2006 Category:Elections in Samoa Samoa General Samoa Category:Election and referendum articles with incomplete results