Samoa general election: Final vote count completed, official results due tonight

La'auli Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt, whose Fast Party has won 30 seats in Samoa’s election and surpassed the 26 needed to govern. Photo / RNZ, Mark Papalii

By Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai of RNZ

The final count from Samoa’s general election has been completed, with unofficial results indicating a landslide win for the ruling Fast Party.

Results from the official count are openly displayed at the national counting centre in Apia but will only become official once they are announced by the head of state.

They show Fast has taken 30 of the 51 seats in Parliament, easily clearing the 26 required to govern.

The Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) finished with 14 seats, caretaker Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa’s Samoa Uniting Party (SUP) secured three, and four independents were also elected.

One of those independents has appeared on Fast’s social media signalling support but, according to the Electoral Commission, the official record still lists him as an independent.

The rolls will be updated after the process is completed.

There are five confirmed female candidates: three from Fast, one from HRPP and one from SUP. Under Samoa’s electoral laws, 10% of the 51 seats in Parliament must be held by women.

Electoral commissioner Toleafoa Tuiafelolo Alexander Stanley has confirmed that consideration will only be looked at after all election-related court cases have been settled.

Polling was held across 50 constituencies last Friday, while Faleata No 2 was decided earlier when Leatinuu Wayne Sooialo was declared elected unopposed after two rivals were ruled ineligible.

Toleafoa is expected to release the official results on Friday night and on Monday the writ will be returned to the Head of State, who will formally declare the new members of Parliament.

– RNZ