Opposition HRPP deputy leader, Lauofo Fonotoe Meti, ponders recent Court of Appeals ruling on the 10% minimum number of 6-seats for women MPs in Parliament.
By Staff Writer
The recent Appeals Court ruling confirming the 6 number of seats for women MPs in Parliament has re-opened legal doubts on the constitutional rule of the FAST Government.
A suggested way out for settling this long, drawn out issue, is for a full review of everything that happened and how they led to the FAST party’s claim to power.
The opposition Human Rights Protection Party, HRPP, deputy leader, Lauofo Fonotoe Meti, in his opinion as a politician and solicitor, is strongly in favour of the review.
“We have to sort the matter out so we can move forward, and to spare our future generations any serious regrets,” Lauofo reasoned, when asked by Newsline Samoa Online.
“We should be responsible enough to avoid blame by incoming generations of not doing our duties of putting things right before passing them on.”
Lauofo did confirm that the HRPP is looking into the issue closely and have also been seeking legal advice and recommendations.
The issue of whether the Government should call for new general elections if they are to respect the Constitution is a decision for PM Fiame Naomi Mataafa and her ruling party.
Lauofo believes it is necessary for a return to the electoral polls to legitimize the rule of whatever party is supposed to be in Government.
“Since they are the ones in power the choice is theirs to make about calling new general elections.
“If the PM is to advise the HOS of new general elections we will just have to follow along.”
The 10% minimum seats for women MPs took up centre role in the controversial ending to the April 2021 general elections when the actual number was subjected to a host of court rulings.
The Head of State, His Highness Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aleto’a Sualauvi II, decreed for snap elections to be called, when the April 2021 general elections ended in a 26-26 draw for the two parties.
A court ruling that voided the seat allocated under the 10% minimum seats to women in Parliament, forced HRPP women MP Aliimalemanu Alofa Tu’uau to lose her seat.
The winning majority shifted to FAST, and the rule of law took over despite the numerous complaints from the opposition HRPP party in protest of ‘tail end’ rulings.
Political loyalties have since divided the country like never before in 60 years of independence for Samoa.
Whether new general elections will restore political stability and harmony in the country is a matter for speculation.