By Martha Taumata Fa’avae
Besieged former Cabinet Minister and House Speaker, La’auli Fosi Schmidt, is as of this morning, Monday 1 June 2020, no longer a member of the ruling Human Rights Protection Party, HRPP.
The Gagaifomauga No.3 Electoral Constituency MP made the official announcement from his Tuanaimato home before the local media.
La’auli placed his decision on the wish of his Constituency after the way he was targetted as a villain by the party leadership.
He said it was not a choice they wanted to make at this difficult time when the country is faced with the threat of the coronavirus pandemic.
He felt however that he was hounded with allegations of blame and wrongdoing against the party.
“This is not an easy decision to make because at first the Constituency was hopeful any differences we had will be worked out,” La’auli explained.
“It was last week that I was finally instructed by my Constituency that I should pull out of the HRPP; so as of today I make the official announcement that I have left the party and will stand as an independent.”
La’auli intends to make his decision official in the upcoming session of Parliament later this month.
His departure from the winning folds of the ruling party comes with about 10 months away from the April 2021 general elections.
His decision to stand as an independent MP is the only choice he has with his resignation from the HRPP.
Under Parliamentary rules he will lose his seat if he decides to join another political party during the current term.
By-elections will be called for the Constituency seat and he will have to run and win the vote to regain his seat.
Signs of a falling out between the MP and the political party may have started when he resigned his Ministerial portfolio with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
La’auli was involved in criminal court proceedings with several business associates over the financial management of a noni juice company.
A growing rift became obvious since he left Cabinet, when he was accused of voting against several key Government bills in the House by the party leadership.
The Prime Minister and HRPP leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi finally confirmed as recent as a few days ago that his former Cabinet Minister is no longer with the party.
La’auli was conciliatory in his resignation announcement, when he apologised for offending the party in any way.
His resignation is expected to add fuel to public speculations about whether he will form a new political party or join any of the established parties linning up to challenge the HRPP in the polls next year.