1996 Western Samoan general election
General elections were held in Western Samoa on 26 April 1996.[1] The Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) emerged as the largest party, but just short of a majority with 24 of the 49 seats. The Samoan National Development Party won eleven seats, the Samoa Liberal Party one and independents thirteen.[2] Following the elections, the twelfth Samoan Parliament was sworn in on 16 May 1996.[3] The HRRP was able to form a government with the support of ten of the independent MPs.[2]
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All 49 seats in the Legislative Assembly 25 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Background
During the previous election held in 1991, the ruling Human Rights Protection Party, led by prime minister Tofilau Eti Alesana, won re-election with a simple majority of 27 seats in parliament. The opposition Samoan National Democratic Party, led by former prime minister Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi, secured 15 seats, whilst independents won the remaining five.[4]
In January 1994, the government introduced a 'value-added tax' on services and goods, sparking widespread protests. This bill also led to demands that prime minister Tofilau resign. The demonstration concluded after two months when the government agreed to omit the most contentious aspects of the bill. Later that year, the legislative assembly approved a bill proposed by the HRPP government to extend the parliamentary from three to five years.[5] Instead of waiting until the next election cycle for this to come into effect, the government implemented the bill immediately, drawing widespread criticism from individuals such as HRPP MP Matatumua Maimoana, who would later depart from the party.[6] The legislature also voted to increase the parliamentary seat count from 47 to 49.[5]
Western Samoa's chief auditor, Su'a Rimoni Ah Chong, released an annual report to parliament in 1994 that exposed widespread corruption within the HRPP government. Prime minister Tofilau responded by establishing a committee to investigate Su'a and had him suspended. Su'a then sued the legislative assembly and the attorney-general.[7]
Results
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| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
| Human Rights Protection Party | 29,353 | 43.54 | 24 | –3 | |
| Samoan National Development Party | 17,586 | 26.09 | 11 | –4 | |
| Samoa All People's Party | 889 | 1.32 | 0 | New | |
| Samoa Liberal Party | 773 | 1.15 | 1 | New | |
| Samoan Conservative Progressive Party | 359 | 0.53 | 0 | New | |
| Independents | 18,454 | 27.37 | 13 | +8 | |
| Total | 67,414 | 100.00 | 49 | +2 | |
| Valid votes | 67,414 | 99.57 | |||
| Invalid/blank votes | 294 | 0.43 | |||
| Total ballots cast | – | ||||
| Registered voters/turnout | 77,964 | – | |||
| Source: Nohlen et al. | |||||
References
- Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p785 ISBN 0-19-924959-8
- "Election Watch, July 1996". Journal of Democracy. 7 (3). 1996. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
- "General Elections 1991, 1996 & 2001 Report" (PDF). Samoan Chief Electoral Officer. 27 November 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 October 2006. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
- Dieter Nohlen; Florian Grotz; Christof Hartmann (2001). Elections in Asia and the Pacific : a data handbook. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 782. ISBN 0-19-924959-8.
- "Parliamentary Chamber: Fono - Legislative Assembly". IPU. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- Soʻo, Asofou (2008). Democracy and custom in Sāmoa : an uneasy alliance. Suva, Fiji: IPS Publications, University of the South Pacific. ISBN 978-982-02-0390-7. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- Ah Chong v Legislative Assembly of Western Samoa, [1996] WSCA 2 (17 September 1996) ("The plaintiff in the Supreme Court proceedings from which this appeal arises was appointed in March 1992 (the date given in his statement of claim) as Controller and Chief Auditor in the service of Western Samoa. ... The plaintiff was about 38 years of age at the time of his appointment.").