By Mataeliga Pio Sioa
The leaders of the two rival political parties HRPP and FAST are to meet again on Monday for a second round of talks to a ‘short cut’ solution to the ongoing post-general elections standoff.
PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi in his caretaker role as leader of the Government met up with Fiame Naomi Mataafa in his office at Government House last Thursday.
PM Tuilaepa took the initiative after the Appeals Court ruling last week that agreed to a 6th seat for a woman in the 51-member Parliament based on the 10% Constitutional requirement.
But while the court ruling agreed with an added seat for the women it was to be activated only after the long process of bi-election court rulings.
“What is important is that the question of 6 seats for women MPs is finalised but I know a way to short-cut the lengthy wait,” Tuilaepa promised when asked by Newsline Samoa.
“As far as I’m concerned the Appeals Court ruling appears to suggest that the core argument is settled and it is now our turn to sort out the rest in an amicable way to settle the issue.”
The first round of talks last Thursday was the start of the ‘short-cut’ process after Fiame took up the invitation from the Prime Minister to meet in his office.
No official statement came out of the initial get together between the two political leaders that is to be followed up with their second meeting tomorrow.
“We cannot make any decisions on our own, we have to get back to our respective party caucuses to hear what they have say.
“If we can all agree on where to go from here then we’ll leave it with the lawyers to make everything legal and then we move on from there.”
Tuilaepa did not commit at the time to what he intends to raise in talks with Fiame including the question of a return to general elections.
“We will discuss that too,” is all a smiling PM was able to muster when asked point blank about it.
Fiame has reportedly told the overseas media that her FAST party has the support of the voters in Samoa but was vague on a return to general elections.
Tuilaepa, however, admitted that this is the heart of the matter and it is why it is important for the two parties to meet.
Failure by the two parties to agree to general elections will revert the standoff back to the long process of going through of court hearings.
Whether any new legal matters will again be raised to prolong the political standoff is unclear for now, except for the 28 election petitions and the same number of counter –petitions lined up already for court hearings.
