27 Aug 2009

Tautua Samoa considers court action against electoral amendment

11:18 am on 27 August 2009

The non-registered Tautua Samoa party in Samoa is considering possible court action if an amendment in the government's electoral legislation is endorsed by Parliament.

The Tautua Samoa party says its supports most of the proposed amendments in the bill.

But it has concerns over the change which says all parliamentary candidates must remain loyal to their political parties or remain as an independent MP before an election.

But the bill says if an MP resigns or joins a group of MPs with the intention of forming a party or a political association outside Parliament after an election, the MPs seats would be dissolved.

The party chairman, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, says the amendment has been proposed to deliberately dismantle their party, strip their seats and lead to fresh by-elections.

He says their party will be meeting soon to discuss possible court action.

Meanwhile, former government MP Palusalue Faapo II, who left the ruling party because of the controversial roading legislation, has criticized prime minister Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi's electoral bill.