By Staff Writer
The long wait for women MPs still to be sworn in moves closer to a final ending with a ruling by a court review to start this week.
The ruling by Speaker Papali’i Ta’eu Masepa’u, to hold off the swearing in of the two women MPs until after the by-elections is set for judiciary review on Tuesday.
The review will include the challenge by another woman candidate of the calculation method adopted to determine the winning percentage of votes for all women candidates in the general elections.
MPs Ali’imalemanu Ms. Alofa Tu’uau of Alataua i Sisifo and Fagaesealii Sapoa Feagiai of Aleipata Itupa i Lalo applied for a judiciary review of the Speakers ruling.
One of the two objections listed by the Speaker to delay the swearing until after the by-elections is no longer valid.
The delay over the two by-election petitions filed for court hearings have or are in the process of being withdrawn.
The lone remaining objection listed is to do with a court appeal by Anoama’a woman candidate Leota Nora, who disagrees with the calculation method that gave the other women the winning count.
Her appeal is reportedly being dealt with in a separate court review this week.
Alataua i Sisifo MP-In-Waiting, Ali’imalemanu Ms. Alofa Tu’uau has been left in political limbo for close to a year now since the 2021 general elections results last April.
The wait started with Constitutional challenge on the legitimacy of the 6th seat for women that qualified Ali’imalemanu for take up the seat.
The ruling was upheld by the Appeals Court but with a tail end condition that she could not take up her seat officially until after the by-elections.
Her position remained unchanged until the Speaker decided to freeze any swearing in until after the by-elections court petitions.
Fagaesealii Sapoa Feagiai of Aleipata Itupa i Lalo joined her HRPP party member when her vote percentage count in the by-election showed higher than Anoama’a FAST candidate Leota Nora.
How her winning percentage was determined as directed by the Constitution is being challenged by her FAST rival Leota Nora.
New MPs Maulolo Tavita Amosa and Fuimaono Tito Asafo have fully confirmed their seat with the official withdrawal of by-election petitions against them.
HRPP candidate for Falealili No. 2, Leleimalefaga Ne’emia Fonotia, withdrew his petition against his FAST rival and new MP for the constituency, Fuimaono Tito Asafo.
FAST candidate for the Sagaga No. 2 seat, Fata Ryan, removed his petition against the HRPP candidate and new MP Maulolo Tavita Amosa.