By Martha Taumata-Faavae
The EFKS Youth Hall was virtually bare for the Tautua Samoa coalition party election rally on Friday but it did not worry party leader Afualo Wood Salele.
A full house does not necessarily show the lack of support as far as the party leader is concerned.
Low turnout for the party’s political rallies is nothing new to Afualo who believes that the support is there but people were unavailable to attend.
“Our party office at Matautu is always open to anyone who wants to know more about our election manifesto or questions about our political party,” Afualo told Newsline Samoa after the Friday rally.
“Right now we’re not that bothered by the small number of people at our rally, we believe that our candidates have made our election platform clear in their own constituencies.
“We are confident that we have the support of the voters.”
The Tautua Samoa organised a political rally for Savaii recently and were happy with the public response to issues they raised and the party members response to questions.
The coalition is contesting the April general elections with 20 candidates made up of 14 for the Tautua Samoa, 5 for Samoa First and one stand-alone candidate.
Parliament has a 50-member seat and to win the general elections the new ruling party will need to take in 26 seats.
Tautua leader Afualo is again not worried by his party’s candidate numbers with plans in place to join up with the other opposition coalition FAST.
‘We’ve already agreed with FAST to come together after the general elections to form a winning coalition but for now we will each continue to run under our own party flags.
“ We may have a small list of candidates running but that is not the issue nor is competing for the same seat with a FAST candidate, our primary objective is to stop the HRPP from taking the seat.”
One of the voting groups Afualo said his party has targetted are the youth and to do that they are calling on the support of parents.
He urged parents to ensure their children at the voting age join them in support of the same political party they too are voting for.
“The youth makes up a large bloc of voters and their vote can elect a new Government and we need parents to get them to vote together for the same party.
“Make sure they don’t vote for the HRPP (Government party).”
The Tautua Samoa was the legitimate opposition party in Parliament following the 2011 general elections.
The party suffered a shock collapse in the 2016 general elections by winning only two seats.
Most of the former party MPs who did not succeed in the last general elections have abandoned the Tautua Samoa for FAST in the upcoming April general elections.