12 Dec 2005

Date set for elections in Samoa

7:32 am on 12 December 2005

The date for Samoa's general elections has now been set for February the 24th 2006.

The Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele, has predicted that his Human Rights Protection Party would win two thirds of the seats in Parliament.

The HRPP has 115 electoral candidates.

The party hopes to announce its list of candidates by the end of the week and will launch its platform on 10 February.

The Samoa Democratic United Party leader, Le Mamea Ropati, has told the Samoa Observer that guesswork on the election date can now stop with the Prime Minister's announcement.

Le Mamea says his party is ready for the elections.

SDUP candidates running for Parliament will be announced by Christmas.