By Mataeliga Pio Sioa
The former deputy Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa, will have to register as an independent candidate for the 2021 General Elections, rather than declare loyalty for any political party.
Fiame is still able to remain in Parliament after her recent resignation from the Government HRPP party but as an independent MP.
Under Standing Orders of the House she will lose her seat if she makes any party switch under the current sitting of Parliament.
The House will sit for the last time next January 2021 before Parliament is dissolved in preparations for the April General Elections.
The Electoral Commissioner, Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio, confirmed that Fiame cannot register as a candidate under any other political party.
The same restrictions apply to another former Government MP Faumuina Wayne Fong who also left the HRPP.
“ They will stand as independents going into the 2021 General Election,” Faimalomatumua directed.
The nomination of candidates for the General Elections starts next Monday 12 to 23 of October 2020.
Nomination of candidates close before Parliament is dissolved so officially Fiame and Faumuina are still Members of Parliament, even after the nomination period ends.
Electoral Commissioner Faimalomatumua, however, clarified that both can still make the move to a new political party if they win through as independent candidates.
“They can switch before taking the oath of allegiance. Should they decide to stay as independent MPs after taking the Oath, then they are required to stay as independent MPs throughout the Parliamentary Term,” Faimalomatumua explained.
“Should they decide to join a political party before taking the Oath, then they are also required to stay with that political party for the remainder of the Parliamentary Term.
“Should they decide to “resign, change or withdraw” from that political party (after the Oath), then they will have their Seats vacated.”
Faimalomatumua added that independent MPs have no restrictions to how they vote in the House.
“ How you vote on the issues in Parliament if you are an independent is up to the MP based on his or her own convictions and beliefs.”
Officially the only MP who was voted into the current Parliament as an independent is Salega MP Olo Fiti Vaai.
Fiame, Olo and Faumuina have all been unofficially linked to the new political party FAST but have as yet to officially declare new political loyalties for the upcoming general elections.
