The Crystal

Western Samoa

Is Cloudy

Western Samoans go to the polls next month in Samoan fashion with voting confined to heads of families (except for two of the 47 seats in the Legis lative Assembly) and without political parties. The two ‘odd seats’ are the only ones filled by universal vote.

As there are no party leaders, the big question, as usual, is: Who will be prime minister?

Prime Minister Tupuola Taisi Efi - elected in 1976 - is not even certain of retaining a seat in the assembly. His election three years ago broke with tra

dition. Tupuola Efi becoming

Western Samoa’s first prime minister without a Tama Aiga title, the Tama Aiga being the ‘four royal sons’, the traditional

royal chiefs.

In Samoan politics, the strong men, the ideas men. attract supporters, one group allying themselves with one prospective leader, another following his (or her. and that could be important this time) rival for the position.

Tupuola Efi beat one ofthe Tama Aiga , Tupua Tamasese Leolofi IV. by 31 votes to 16 to become prime minister in March 1976.

Tupuola Efi, many agree, has done a good job. They feel his administration has been a progressive one and that it can point to many achievements.

Finance Minister Vaovasa Filipo has presided over an im provement in the country’s financial position.

It is difficult for an outsider

to understand Samoan politics?

In the past. Western Samo;o prime ministers have stood oo fallen on the reputations anor performances of their chosem ministers as well as theiii: own.

There have been several scandals in the past three yearn and several cabinet ministern have been accused of irrespon-n sible behaviour. All this hasc rubbed off on Tupuola Efi ancbi he could very well find himselll opposed by strong candidates?: Even his assembly seat could! be in danger. On that scores however, he has a couple ole options. He can stand for higi present constituency ale Leulumoega, where he holds! his Tupuola title, or he cam. stand in the Asau constituencx' where he holds the prestigiousi. title of Taisi. It is rumoured): that he is losing popularity atr Leulumoega but that he still 1 has a strong band of supporters! there. If he chooses to fightr Asau he will have stiff compe-j tition from Vaai Kolone, an oldb campaigner. At the time oftc writing it seemed more he would defend his seat attx

Leulumoega.

Masiofo Fetaui Mataafa,.* widow of the late Prime Minis--* ter Mataafa is a possible can-n didate. She is no stranger too

Samoa’s political scene, havingg

been regarded as the reallx power behind the throne whenn Mataafa was prime minister.

Masiofo Fetaui is regardedb as one of the most capable? women in Samoa in severalh spheres but can she overcome? male prejudice? Finance?: Minister Vaovasa Filipo, as mountain of a man, couldb attract much support if he? stands. So could Speaker Leotan Leuluaialii I.Ale. veteran poli--i tician Tofilau Eti. or Asi Eikeniir who, as a minister, has done? ; well in his dealings over air ser--i vices.

Tupuola's main advantage,,?

of course, is that there are feww people of his calibre around..!

But anyone who tries to make? firm forecasts of the course ofL political events in Western n Samoa may just as well tryy

catching moonbeams.

Masiofo Fetaui... can she over come male prejudice?