By Staff Writer
Hopes of an end to the HRPP and FAST political standoff crashed when the Monday second round of talks failed to reach any agreement between the two leaders.
As political instability continues, pressure on a national budget is mounting with just over 3-weeks left of the 2020/2021 financial year ending June 2021.
The new financial year 2021/2022 should start next month July 2021.
The caretaker Cabinet of Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele reportedly met with the heads of Ministries and SOEs today to look into the running of essential services.
There are strong concerns that the uncertainties of forming a new Government is bound to have a considerable impact on normal budget support from overseas donor partners.
Caretaker Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and FAST leader Fiame Naomi Mataafa were unyielding after meeting in the Prime Minister’s office on Monday afternoon.
It is the second time both sides failed to reach an agreement after the Thursday talks last week.
The talks are at the initiative of PM Tuilaepa after a ruling by the Appeals Court upheld the rights for a 6th seat in the 51-member Parliament for an elected woman.
The additional seat, however, is to be considered only after the hearing of election petitions in court and bi-elections to follow if required.
Both parties were hopeful of reaching an agreement to convene Parliament and form a new Government with out suffering the long legal process that may take months to finalise.
FAST leader Fiame and her delegation insisted that they have the winning numbers of 26-25 seats and the HRPP should step down.
PM Tuilaepa and his side argued it is unconstitutional to hold Parliament without a 6th woman MP included.
“We suggested the withdrawal of all court petitions to satisfy the Constitution with the extra seat for the women in place.” Tuilaepa explained on national media after the Monday talks.
“ The Head of State will be able to call the new Parliament to session and it doesn’t matter if it is 26-seats each, whatever comes after will be within the Constitution.”
An equal number of seats for each party would lead to a ‘hung Parliament’ and would normally require a return to general elections.
Fiame and her delegation rejected the HRPP proposal and insisted they have the majority and the new Government is already in place.
“Fiamē believes the court decision is not retrospective and can only be for future elections as the writ of appointment of the elected members was given under the hand of the Head of State dated 16 April 2021,” a FAST statement asserted after the talks.
While both parties are not prepared to back-down and the option of more legal arguments continue to loom on the rule of law, they have left the door open for more talks if possible to resolve the standoff.
Both leaders are hopeful an amicable solution may still be reached.
The need to reach an agreement before the start of the new financial year is unclear whether it is an added issue the two sides have to look at urgently.
