Pacific media reporting Samoa Head of State will convene parliament to swear in MPs

Apia, SAMOA —  While media around the region is reporting that Samoa's Head of State has agreed to convene parliament in order to swear in the members elected in April's general election, the Office of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly is saying they have not been informed of this turn of events.

According to RNZ Pacific and Samoa Observer, leaders of the majority FAST party - which won 26 of 51 seats - met with His Highness yesterday afternoon to request that parliament be called on Friday.

FAST has advised the Head of State of their majority, and their intention to form a government once parliament meets.

The caretaker HRPP government is attempting to delay parliament, claiming legal challenges need to be settled first.

However FAST leader Fiame Naomi Mata'afa said the Head of State Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aleto'a Sualauvi II had agreed to convene parliament, although he has yet to confirm a date.

Fiame acknowledged Tuimaleali'ifano's critical role in calling parliament together, which would then allow elected representatives to get on with their roles to govern.

The HRPP is challenging a Supreme Court ruling issued on Monday, which has opened the way for FAST to form a government.

The court voided a move by the Electoral Commission to add an extra appointed seat to parliament, which had left the HRPP and FAST parties with an equal number of seats, and a call by the Head of State for a second election on 21 May, intended to override the results of the first election.

Th HRPP challenge against that ruling will be heard in the Supreme Court tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour has cancelled a public holiday that was scheduled for the now-scrapped election day on Friday 21 May.

CLERK OF LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY’S STATEMENT

“I would like to announce that for the information of our country, the Office of the Legislative Assembly has not received an Order from the Office of the Head of State for this [convending Parliament] purpose. 

“The Office of the Legislative Assembly will monitor the delivery of this Order by His Excellency. As soon as this Order is delivered to our Office, we will announce it for the information of the public tomorrow  (Thursday in Samoa).

With great respect

Clerk of the Legislative Assembly.