31 Mar 2007

Samoa Democratic United party seeks for by-election candidates

10:17 am on 31 March 2007

The Samoa Democratic United party or SDUP is struggling to get candidates to run for it in two up-coming by-elections.

The government no longer recognises the SDUP as the official opposition party after the Speaker ruled the party needed 8 MPs to be an opposition party, and the 7 the party had was not enough.

SDUP's first time MP and secretary, Tuia Pua Fuatogi Letoa, has told the Samoa Observer newspaper the party is still negotiating with possible candidates.

Most of the candidates for the Faleata East and Vaimauga west constituencies are ruling HRPP party candidates, including a former SDUP MP in the last parliamentary term, Patu Ativalu Togi.