1985 Western Samoan general election

1985 Western Samoan general election

22 February 1985
All 47 seats in the Legislative Assembly 24 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   Leader Tofilau Eti Alesana Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi Party HRPP CDP Last election 22 – Seats won 31 16 Seat change 9 New Popular vote 4,698 2,052 Percentage 34.54% 15.09%
Prime Minister before election Tofilau Eti Alesana HRPP Elected Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana HRPP

General elections were held in Western Samoa on 22 February 1985. Voting was restricted to matai and citizens of European origin ("individual voters"), with the matai electing 45 MPs and Europeans two.[1] The result was a victory for the Human Rights Protection Party, which won 31 seats.[2] Its leader, Tofilau Eti Alesana, remained Prime Minister.

Results

Fifteen of the 47 elected MPs were new to the Legislative Assembly. Minister of Health Lavea Lio lost his seat.[2]

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Human Rights Protection Party	4,698	34.54	31	+9
	Christian Democratic Party	2,052	15.09	16	New
	Independents	6,850	50.37	0	0
Total		13,600	100.00	47	0
Valid votes		13,600	99.37
Invalid/blank votes		86	0.63
Total ballots cast			–
Registered voters/turnout		19,013	–
Source: PIM, Nohlen et al.

Aftermath

Following the elections the HRPP held a two-day conference on 25–26 February at which it re-elected Tofilau Eti Alesana as its candidate for Prime Minister.[2] On 7 March Va'ai Kolone resigned from the party.[3] On 9 March the Legislative Assembly elected Alesana Prime Minister; he was the only candidate after Kolone declined to be nominated. Nonumalo Sofara was re-elected as Speaker.[3]

However, in December Alesana's 1986 budget was rejected by the Assembly with 27 votes against and 19 supporting. As the head of state refused to dissolve the Assembly, Alesana resigned as Prime Minister on 27 December. Kolone, now leader of the opposition coalition, was then elected Prime Minister.[4]

See also

• List of members of the Legislative Assembly of Western Samoa (1985–1988)

References

1. Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p782 ISBN 0-19-924959-8
2. Govt. party has easy win in Samoa poll Pacific Islands Monthly, April 1985, p7
3. Kolone resignation may upset Eti rule Pacific Islands Monthly, April 1985, p23
4. Apia: Vaai Kolone back as P.M. Pacific Islands Monthly, February 1986, p8