The former chairman of the Tautua Samoa Party is disappointed to have lost his parliamentary seat in the by-elections triggered by his party, but he's already looking ahead to the next general election.
Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi says that the Faleata seat has gone to a candidate of the ruling HRPP, Ale Vena, who won by just over 80 votes.
He says unfortunately about 1,300 of his presumed backers had failed to vote on May 14th.
"Of course it was a working day, and most of them weren't able to go and vote and also I now know that we didn't do much on the day by way of transporting the voters to the booths. I mean that was one of the problems. But I accept defeat and it's time for me to refocus and rethink things about my career. And also Im determined to come back."
Meanwhile the Tautua Samoa candidate for Safata, Palusalue Faapo II, narrowly retained his seat.
The other Tautua Samoa party candidate and former independent MP, Va'ai Papu Vailupe Va'ai, had earlier been re-elected unopposed.
