By I Lesatele
When the election dust settled after the provisional count of the ballots last Friday, more than 60 percent of the sitting Members of Parliament failed to regain their electoral seats.
Those who were re-elected made up 36 per cent of the members from the old Parliament.
The Prime Minister and 5 of his Cabinet ministers were among them.
Of all the sitting MPs returned, 15 were from the HRPP and 4 from FAST . Most of the returning MPs or 13 were re-elected in Upolu with only 5 coming from Savaii.
The former deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health were the only women MPs to retain their seats while the other three, all from Savaii electorates were unsuccessful.
The list of returning MPs are led by the PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi who was elected unopposed along with FAST leader Fiame Naomi Mataafa and Faleata 3 MP Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi.
The returning Cabinet Ministers are Tapunu’u Niko Lee Hang, Sala Pinati, Loau Keneti Sio, Faimalotoa Kika Stowers and Lautafi Selafi Purcell.
The rest of the returning MPs are :
Sulamanaia Fetaiai Tuivasa, Lenata’i Victor Tanumapua, Leatinuu Wayne Fong, Leaana Ronnie Posini, Nonu Teo Niumata, Alaiasa Sepulona Moananu, Lauofo Fonotoe Pierre, Peseta Vaifou Tevaga, La’auli Leuatea Schmidt and Olo Fiti Afoa.