HRPP supporters at the party’s launching of it 2016 Election Manifesto

 

By Nanai Laveitiga Tuiletufuga

Taking the psychological battle to his political opposites, the Prime Minister is concerned that the Tautua Samoa will not have the numbers to form an opposition party in the house.

For a political party to be officially recognised and registered in parliament, it needs 8 sitting MPs.

And with days before the general elections, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi says that based on feedback from the community including supporters who have defected from Tautua Samoa, he is “worried that the Tautua bunch will not have the needed 8 MPs to return as an Opposition party.”

“Government is always in favor of a strong opposition party, but their bad-mouthing tactics to ridicule our reforms, of which the country is reaping rewards, is killing their election agenda,” continued the Prime Minister.

Tuilaepa says he always welcomes talks of more than one new political party in the making, targeting the 2016 General Elections.

In fact, according to Tuilaepa, he wants to see more political parties aside from the “limping” Opposition Party contesting the upcoming general elections.

“The more parties contesting the general elections will also reduce the slanderous and ridiculous claims that we are enforcing a one party state,” the Prime Minister noted.

“In the last general elections, if you recall, there were rumors of six different political parties promising a change of government.

“And the HRPP maintained our composure and resolve that actions speak louder than words.

Asked by the Talofa FM Radio station if the HRPP would feel threatened if more than two political parties stand up for the general elections, Tuilaepa said that is “utter nonsense.”

”The HRPP is always ready for the elections even if it’s held today.

“I have confidence that the country will vote on issues and not on innuendoes.

“In fact, signs indicate total domination and an election avalanche in favor of the HRPP.

The HRPP leader also brushed aside as a non-issue the cracks in the party unity that were starting to show up last year.

“You’re always expected to come up against factions inside a party when it becomes too big like the HRPP, “Tuilaepa explained.

“But it has not taken the HRPP spirit away – the party will continue to move along.

“On the other hand it must be remembered that Members have their own rights and if they want to break into factions inside the party they can do so.”

Tuilaepa believed that the frictions inside the HRPP that targeted the former Minister of Finance were mainly to do with leadership succession.

He may have been partly responsible when he raised the issue of who should take over after him in one of the party caucuses.

“I told the caucus our party should begin to think about the succession issue, because I will not always be around. Anything could happen to me or I could resign.”

Tuilaepa said the Tautua Samoa opposition leader, Palusalue Fa’apo II, picked up on the same issue during the debate on national debts.

“I tried to reassure him by explaining there is nothing to be overly concerned about but he worried that this was my last term.

“In order to continue to inspire our party members of their leadership role I assured the opposition leader that all appointments are inspired by the divine spirit.

“I could stop being a PM tomorrow if that is His will or I could stay on for the next 20 years.”

“As far as the election is concerned I can’t see where or how the HRPP will be stopped from returning in the next general elections.

“The philosophical justification of the HRPP is articulated in the slogan-“What is good for Apia is also good for the rural areas” and this has been the propelling
force behind the HRPP’s policies.”

The Tautua Samoa is equally confident as well that they have established enough of a track record in Parliament to win them enough credibility with the voters to win the next general elections.

Tautua leader Palusalue is buoyed by self belief they have made a resounding influence in exposing corruption in Government, highlighted by the Auditor General’s Report.

“The Report highlights corruption in almost every Ministry of Government and it shows up everything that we have fought for in Parliament,” Palusalue asserted last year at the opposition party’s year birthday celebrations.

“We take credit in forcing the Minister of Finance [Faumuina Liuga] to resign his Cabinet portfolio – to us that is the best measure of our success.”

Share This

About the author