2023 Faleata No. 4 by-election

A by-election was held in the Faleata No. 4 constituency in Samoa on 15 September 2023.[1] The by-election was triggered by the resignation of sitting MP Ale Vena Ale from the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) in order to become an independent in November 2022, due to dissatisfaction with party leadership.[2] Following a protracted court battle, the seat was declared vacant on 19 July 2023.[3] Ale joined the Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party shortly after the announcement of the by-election and had one opponent, independent candidate Ulu Bismarck Crawley. Ale won in a landslide, earning 66% of the vote, which, in addition to FAST victories in two simultaneous by-elections in the Siʻumu and Vaʻa-o-Fonoti constituencies, gave the governing party a two-thirds parliamentary majority.

2023 Faleata No. 4 by-election
15 September 2023
Turnout63.96%
  First party Second party
 
Candidate Ale Vena Ale Ulu Bismarck Crawley
Party FAST Independent
Popular vote 953 488
Percentage 66.13% 33.87%
MP before election

Ale Vena Ale
Independent

 Elected MP

Ale Vena Ale
FAST

Background

During the previous general election, held in 2021, Ale Vena Ale of the HRPP won the constituency with 53% of the vote. He defeated Ulu Bismarck Crawley, also of the HRPP and the Tautua Samoa Party's Lealasopo Leuiʻi Vaitagutu.[4] Ale later expressed dissatisfaction with the HRPP, particularly party leader and former Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi's refusal to step down despite the party's less-than-ideal performance in the 2021 general election and the subsequent by-elections. With the support of many of his constituents, Ale, alongside Tuʻuʻu Anasiʻi Leota, resigned from the HRPP to become independents in November 2022, adding that Tuila‘epa had become a "damaging factor" for the party. They were joined by Mauʻu Siaosi Puʻepuʻemai shortly after. However, the HRPP passed a law shortly before the 2021 general election, requiring members of parliament to contest by-elections should they leave their party during a parliamentary term. Ale said the party implemented the law in fear of defections and, along with the other two former HRPP MPs, challenged it in court. When they refused to vacate their seats as ordered by parliamentary Speaker Papaliʻi Liʻo Taeu Masipau, he pursued legal action against the trio. In July 2023, the trio agreed to relinquish their seats in exchange for the speaker withdrawing the legal challenge, triggering the by-elections in Faleata No. 4 and in the constituencies of the other two former HRPP MPs.[5][3][6]

Candidates

Nominations for candidates to register were open from 24 to 25 August, while the Office of the Electoral Commission (OEC) designated 31 August as the deadline for contestants to withdraw if they intend.[1] Two individuals registered their candidacies.[7] Ale Vena Ale announced on 19 July that he would contest as a FAST candidate and formally joined the party on 22 July.[8][9] The other candidate, former chief executive officer of the ministry of natural resources and environment, Ulu Bismarck Crawley, who ran under the HRPP banner in 2021, filed to contest as an independent. The HRPP leader declared that the party would not run a candidate, adding the HRPP would not intervene in the internal matters of the constituency and honour its will.[10][11]

Conduct

The OEC announced the election date on 19 August. Shortly before scheduling the by-election, the OEC updated the constituency's electoral roll, with 2,253 registered voters, up from 2,171 in the 2021 general election. Pre-polling occurred on 13 September, while the return of the writ took place on 18 September.[1][7] Individuals eligible to vote on the pre-polling day included essential workers, senior citizens over 65 and individuals with a disability; 152 voters applied to cast an early ballot. On pre-polling day, voting opened at 9:00 and concluded at 16:00 local time (UTC+13:00).[12][13] On the day of the by-election, voting began at 8:00 and concluded at 15:00 (UTC+13:00). A preliminary count subsequently commenced, while an official count occurred the following day.[14]

Results

The preliminary result showed a landslide victory for Ale Vena Ale with 867 votes to independent Ulu Bismarck Crawley's 396.[15] In the final count, Ale's vote share increased to 953 or 66%, while Ulu earned 488 votes, 33%, and voter turnout was 63%. FAST candidates also won the other two simultaneous by-elections in the Siʻumu and Vaʻa-o-Fonoti constituencies, which, along with Ale's triumph, handed FAST a two-thirds majority in parliament with 35 seats.[16]

CandidatePartyVotes%
Ale Vena AleFaʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi95366.13
Ulu Bismarck CrawleyIndependent48833.87
Total1,441100.00
Valid votes1,441100.00
Invalid/blank votes00.00
Total votes1,441100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,25363.96

References
  1. Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (19 August 2023). "Dates for by-elections confirmed". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  2. "Samoan opposition MPs quit party to become independents". RNZ. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  3. Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (19 July 2023). "MPs Ale, Tuu'u and Mau'u to head to by-election". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 19 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  4. Adam Carr. "Parliamentary elections". psephos.adam-carr.net. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  5. Lagi Keresoma (27 June 2022). "Voters stand by MP Ale Vena's decision to leave HRPP". Talamua. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  6. Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (3 November 2022). "Tu'u'u and Ale resign from H.R.P.P." Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  7. Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (25 August 2023). "New party enters by-elections race". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  8. Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (19 July 2023). "Three MPs set for by-elections". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  9. Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (22 July 2023). "Faleata No. 4 and Siumu present former members to F.A.S.T." Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  10. "HRPP Announces Candidates for Upcoming By-elections". Samoa Global News. 12 August 2023. Archived from the original on 27 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  11. Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (12 August 2023). "H.R.P.P. won't contest Faleata No. 4 by-election". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  12. Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (13 September 2023). "More than 200 vote in pre-polling". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  13. Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (12 September 2023). "Three constituencies head to pre-polling". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 13 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  14. Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (15 September 2023). "By-elections in the three constituencies". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 15 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  15. "Clean Sweep for FAST Party in By-Elections: All HRPP Resigned MPs Return to Parliament". Samoa Global News. 15 September 2023. Archived from the original on 15 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  16. Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (16 September 2023). "F.A.S.T. trio dominate poll results". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
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