1976 Western Samoan general election
General elections were held in Western Samoa on 21 February 1976. All candidates ran as independents and voting was restricted to Matai and citizens of European origin ("individual voters"), with the Matai electing 45 MPs and Europeans two.[1] Following the election, Tupuola Efi became Prime Minister.
 | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
All 47 seats in the Legislative Assembly | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
 |
|---|
| Constitution |
Background
In the aftermath of the previous election held in 1973, parliament elected Fiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II to another non-consecutive term as prime minister, defeating the incumbent Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV and challenger Tupuola Efi.[2] Fiamē served as Western Samoa's head of government until his death two years later in 1975. The O le Ao o le Malo (head of state) Malietoa Tanumafili II appointed Tupua Tamasese to serve as acting prime minister until the next election.[3]
Campaign
A total of 169 candidates contested the 47 seats. Four seats had only one candidate, who was returned unopposed.[4]
Results
Of the 36 incumbent MLAs contesting the elections, only 14 were re-elected. Ministers Alfonso Philipp and Fepuleai Samuelu were amongst those losing their seats.[3]
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independents | 9,203 | 100.00 | 47 | |
| Total | 9,203 | 100.00 | 47 | |
| Valid votes | 9,203 | 98.95 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 98 | 1.05 | ||
| Total ballots cast | – | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 12,254 | – | ||
| Source: Nohlen et al. | ||||
Aftermath
The election result in Fa'asaleleaga No. 4 where I'iga Suafole had won by one vote was overturned following a petition by runner-up Mulitalo Siafausa, who claimed that unqualified voters had participated in the election. The Supreme Court annulled one vote for Suafole, and a by-election was ordered for the seat.[5]
Following the elections, the Legislative Assembly elected Leota Leuluaiali'i Ituau Ale as Speaker. In the contest for Prime Minister, Tupuola Efi defeated the incumbent Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV by 31 votes to 16, becoming the first Prime Minister not to hold one of the four Tama-a-Aiga titles.[3] Efi appointed a nine-member cabinet, while Lealofi resigned from the Assembly and was elected to the Council of Deputies.[3]
| Position | Minister |
|---|---|
| Prime Minister | Tupuola Efi |
| Minister of Agriculture | Fuimaono Mimio |
| Minister of Communications | Tofaeono Tile |
| Minister of Economic Affairs | Asi Eikeni |
| Minister of Education | Lilomaiava Niko |
| Minister of Finance | Vaovasamanaia Filipo |
| Minister of Justice | Ulualofaiga Talamaivao Niko |
| Minister of Lands | Mano Togamau |
| Minister of Works | Letiu Tamatoa |
References
- Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p782 ISBN 0-19-924959-8
- "Stomachs, cars and liquor bars loomed large in Samoa election". Pacific Islands Monthly. April 1973. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- Tupuola Efi dispels a myth and upsets a Samoan tradition Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1976, pp29–30
- Campaigning at the bar Pacific Islands Monthly, March 1976, p75
- One lousy vote! Pacific Islands Monthly, June 1976, p11