21 Jan 2009

New Samoa party clears first hurdle

1:53 pm on 21 January 2009

Reports from Samoa say the newly launched Tautua Samoa Party is for the time being unlikely to face any action from the speaker, Tolofuaivalelei Falemoe Lei'ataua.

Last month, he told local television that the party launch violated the requirements of forming any political party under the Electoral Act by MPs currently serving a parliamentary term.

The speaker says he received a legal advice from the Attorney General but doesn't want to release it because he is still considering the matter.

A government legal advisor is reported to have said that even though the Tautua Samoa party has not been registered yet it can still operate outside parliament as an organisation.