By Martha Taumata Fa’avae
The Prime Minsiter, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, welcomes the added challenge of the new political party led by the former Speaker and Cabinet Minister, La’auliolemalietoa Leauatea Schmidt.
The Faatuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi or FAST political party was registered this morning with the Office of the Electoral Commissioner to join the 2021 general elections race.
FAST is the 7th political party to register and makes true the much publicised intentions by the former member of the ruling Human Rights Protection Party, HRPP.
“Good that the new party is registered, there’s no point in doing the talk without an official party to back it up,” PM Tuilaepa reacted.
Newsline caught up with the Government leader for his comments at the official opening of the Tafaigata St. Paul’s Academy this morning.
Tuilaepa said with a hint of sarcasm that he has overheard the new party has a following of well educated candidates lined up for the general elections.
“ Well, we can all say what we want but I guess we’ll just have to wait next year for the results of the general elections.”
FAST leader Laauli has been in the political limelight ever since a falling out with the HRPP leadership started with a business partnership venture that went sour.
The costly controversy escalated with his resignation as a Cabinet Minister but deteriorated further into being ostracised inside the HRPP until he was eventually forced to resign.
The breakup was acrimonious and the subsequent fallout finally ended when the MP verbally resigned in the middle of an uproar at being found guilty of misleading Parliament.
The House Ethics Committee found that he was guilty of giving misleading information about the purchase of a generator for the new Tanumalala Prison.
The MP met with his Gagaifomauga No.3 Electoral Constituency afterward and it has eventually led to the new political party.
He met with the Speaker of the House a week ago to make his resignation from Parliament official.
A by-election is coming up for the vacant seat of the Savai’i electoral constituency and the former incumbent is expected to stand as a candidate to regain his seat.