27 Jul 2009

Tautua Samoa party calls on government to reconsider move on electoral amendments

10:51 am on 27 July 2009

The Tautua Samoa party chairman, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, has called on the Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, to reconsider moves to amendment to the Electoral Act.

Lealailepule says the move follows the defeat of the speaker's ruling to dissolve their parliamentary seats in a recent legal action.

He says there is no other reason behind the proposed amendments but to enable the ruling HRPP party to gain more power to rule as a one party state.

Tuilaepa has confirmed his cabinet has already discussed several amendments but did not want to reveal them until Parliament debates the proposed amendments next month.

But the Tautua Samoa chairman says the government must not amend the constitution by using the two thirds majority they hold in the 49 seat parliament.