By Staff Writer
Elected woman MP Ali’imalemanu Ms. Alofa Tu’uau has sparked off the anticipated run of court battles looming at the outcome of the 2021 General Elections.
Ali’imalemanu was officially declared on Tuesday night, 20 April 2021, a duly elected MP by the Head of State, under Article 44(1A) of the Constitution.
The Alataua i Sisifo MP topped the percentage count of all the non-elected women candidates and became the legal choice to make up the 10 per cent threshold for women MPs in parliament.
Her election broke the 25-seat deadlock between the HRPP and FAST with the independent MP Tuala yet to cast his vote.
How Tuala votes will either result in an outright 27-25 win to the HRPP or another deadlock, this time at 26-seats each, between the two rival parties.
His highly awaited decision is to be announced later tonight.
FAST is however contesting MP Aliimalemanu’s election in court with a motion to declare the ‘activation’ of the article of the Constitution ‘unlawful and unconstitutional.’
The protesting motion intends to win a court ruling that will void the Tuesday night declaration by the Head of State.
The Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi agreed with the decision by the Electoral Commissioner Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio on the election of MP Ali’imalemanu.
“The decision follows the election of MP Fa’aulusau Rosa Stowers in the 2016 General Elections.’ he told the local media in a press conference at his office this morning, Wednesday 21 April 2021.
PM Tuilaepa also reacted to media enquiries about the aftermath of a possible 26-seat deadlock between the two parties.
“If that happens we would get what is called a ‘hung Parliament’ and the Head of State will have to call for new General Elections,” PM Tuilaepa explained.
The caretaker leader of Government added that the calling of the first session of Parliament is at the PM’s advise to the Head of State.
If the outcome is a tie the Head of State will void the outcome of the general elections and call for a new one.