Samoa's ruling HRPP party has unanimously re-elected Tuilapea Sailele Malielegaoi as its party leader and also the country's prime minister.
The decision was announced following a caucus vote yesterday, where a new deputy leader, who will also be the deputy prime minister, was also chosen.
Our correspondent in Samoa, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia reports.
"The HRPP's new deputy leader, and Samoa's new deputy prime minister, is the Anoamaa West constituency MP, Fonotoe Nuafesili Pierre Lauofo. He takes over from Misa Telefoni who did not seek re-election from Falelatai and Samatau. The ministers who were defeated in yesterday's vote for the deputy leader position were, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau, and Tuu'u Anasi'i Leota. A source in the HRPP party has also confirmed that the positions of speaker and deputy speaker were also elected at the caucus meeting. Meanwhile the fifteenth parliament session is scheduled to meet on Friday for the swearing in ceremony of the 49 MPs including the new speaker as well as the prime minister and his new line up of cabinet ministers. Samoa's Electoral office has completed the final counts of the 2011 general election and there are no changes to the winning candidates for HRPP's 36 seats and the opposition Tautua Samoa party's 13 seats."
