7 Mar 2011

Samoa women fail to advance in politics, says re-elected MP

4:21 pm on 7 March 2011

Samoa's former minister for women's affairs says women are not making progress in politics in the country.

Only nine women stood in last weekend's general election, and only two, both former ministers from the winning HRPP, were elected.

Fiame Naomi Mata'afa says the voters need to be educated.

"I'm a bit sad about that, because we had reached four, last election, and I think two elections ago we had four as well, but only for a short period of time, so we are not seeing that progress coming through."

Fiame Naomi Mata'afa.

The incumbent Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, has ruled out Samoa implementing reserve seats for women.