1985 Western Samoan general election

General elections were held in Western Samoa on 22 February 1985. Voting was restricted to matai and citizens of European origin ("individual voters"), with the Matai electing 45 MPs and Europeans two.[1] The result was a victory for the Human Rights Protection Party, which won 31 seats.[2] Its leader, Tofilau Eti Alesana, remained Prime Minister.

1985 Western Samoan general election
22 February 1985
All 47 seats in the Legislative Assembly
24 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader Tofilau Eti Alesana Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi
Party HRPP CDP
Last election 22 –
Seats won 31 16
Seat change Increase 9 New
Popular vote 4,698 2,052
Percentage 34.54% 15.09%
Prime Minister before election

Tofilau Eti Alesana
HRPP

 Elected Prime Minister

Tofilau Eti Alesana
HRPP

Politics of Samoa
Constitution
Executive
Legislative
Judiciary
Elections
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations

Results

Fifteen of the 47 elected MPs were new to the Legislative Assembly. Minister of Health Lavea Lio lost his seat.[2]

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Human Rights Protection Party4,69834.5431+9
Christian Democratic Party2,05215.0916New
Independents6,85050.3700
Total13,600100.00470
Valid votes13,60099.37
Invalid/blank votes860.63
Total ballots cast–
Registered voters/turnout19,013–
Source: PIM, Nohlen et al.

Aftermath

Following the elections, the HRPP held a two-day conference on 25–26 February, the HRPP re-elected Tofilau Eti Alesana as its candidate for Prime Minister.[2] On 7 March, Va'ai Kolone resigned from the party.[3] On 9 March the Legislative Assembly elected Alesana Prime Minister; he was the only candidate after Kolone declined to be nominated. Nonumalo Sofara was re-elected as Speaker.[3]

However, in December, Alesana's 1986 budget was rejected by the Assembly, with 27 votes against and 19 supporting. As the head of state refused to dissolve the Assembly, Alesana resigned as Prime Minister on 27 December. Va'ai Kolone, the leader of the opposition coalition, was then elected.[4]

See also

References
  1. Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p782 ISBN 0-19-924959-8
  2. Govt. party has easy win in Samoa poll Pacific Islands Monthly, April 1985, p7
  3. Kolone resignation may upset Eti rule Pacific Islands Monthly, April 1985, p23
  4. Apia: Vaai Kolone back as P.M. Pacific Islands Monthly, February 1986, p8
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