27 Jan 2011

Samoa deputy leader may still run in March election

7:28 pm on 27 January 2011

Samoa's deputy prime minister, Misa Telefoni, is refusing to reveal to media his future political plans and end months of speculation.

Misa was banned by his village of Falelatai last year and on Tuesday this week made a presentation of gifts to members of his Human Rights Protection Party in what many interpreted as a farewell gesture.

But sources close to Misa say it was not a farewell function and that he's yet to make a decision on whether he'll stand.

At this week's last session of Parliament, two MPs, Hans Joachim Keil and Muagututi'a Siaosi Meredith, delivered farewell speeches from politics, but Misa did not.

He is also still registered in Falelatai and Samatau and retains strong support there, despite the banishment.