25 Aug 2009

Samoa amendment labelled as attempt to thwart party formation

3:16 pm on 25 August 2009

Samoa's parliament has heard accusations that a proposed amendment to the electoral act is designed to stop the formation of new political parties.

The amendment will prevent MPs from becoming independents when they resign from a political party, as is the current practice, and under the planned changes a by-election will then be held.

But as our correspondent in Apia, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia, explains, the proposed amendments go further:

"One of the amendment currently debated in the House is an amendment to stop MPs associating themselves in the current parliamentary term or future parliamentary terms, for the purpose of forming a political party. The Prime Minister has already said in the House that the aim of that amendment is to maintain a strong stability in government as well as in parliament."

The Chairman of the Tautua Samoa party chairman, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, has told parliament the government's move is aimed at dismantling his party's preparations for the 2011 general election.

The amendments also plan to change the two individual seats voted for by those on a mixed race roll.

They will become like other seats in parliament and require contenders to hold a matai title to be elected into parliament