Election Settled
p. 16 · Read in the full issue
Western Samoan Election Settled
WESTERN SAMOA has a new Prime Minister. Tofilau Eti has been elected leader of the Hu man Rights Protection Party and leader of the Government, following voting in Western Samoa’s Legislative Assembly.
In the voting, which was strictly along party lines, Tofilau obtained 24 votes. His opponent, Tupua Tamasese Efi, the leader of the ruling coalition party, received 23 votes. Tofilau was Prime Minister of Western Samoa from 1983 to 1985. The new speaker of the House is Aeau Peniamina.
Tofilau is expected to announce his Cabinet lineup soon.
Meanwhile, the country’s Supreme Court has dismissed the first of nine pe titions filed following the country’s gen eral election in February. The petition, by former speaker Nonumalo Sofaro, alleged errors in the electoral role and imperson ation at the polls.
In dismissing the petition, Mr Justice Maxwell said the court was not satisfied that the errors pointed out could have changed the outcome of the election. □