A balancing

Politics

A balancing act

By Chris Peteru

As most of Western Samoa’s 72,000 eligible voters turned out to decide her political future recently, the ringing endorsement the gov ernment anticipated has turned into a struggle for the balance of power.

As it happened, the ruling Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) pre-elec tion boast of winning two-thirds of the 49 parliamentary seats, left egg on many sup porters faces. They did manage 22 seats, but (days after the election) the battle between the HRPP and the Samoa National Development Party (SNDP) who won 13 seats, is to bring in as many of the 14 elected Independent MPs as they can, and grab power.

It’s unlikely the Independents (who turned out 52 of the 141 candidates) will unite to form another party, given the lack of common ground.

Still, their record showing suggests plenty of dissatisfaction with the Opposition and the HRPP, who went into the five-yearly elections with a 16-seat majority, which was promptly shredded.

“It’s a protest vote as much as anything, and tells the government that the people can see right through its hypocrisy,” says re-elected Independent Le Tagaloa Pita.

Interestingly, the new Independent MPs may be having some of their first public appearances in court and not the parlia mentary debating under chamber. Under the 1995 Amendment to the Electoral Act, all candidates are meant to declare their party affiliations before the elections are held. Challenges to that regulation seem inevitable, although neither the HRPP or SNDP have indicated what they will do.

On polling day, prime minister Tofilau Eti Alesana proved that being 71 with a heart condition posed no problem to his political career and was easily returned. So to, was Opposition leader Tuiatua Tupua

Tamasese.

Possibly looking for some form of alternative medicine now are colleagues Health Minister Sala Vaimili, Sports Minister Pule Lameko and Labour Minister Vui Viliamu, who all struck out at the ballot box.

Viliamu’s departure may have signalled a tomahawk missile launch in the govern ment’s backside from the Faasaleleaga dis trict. Suspended controller and Chief Auditor Su’a Rimoni Ah Chong who tabled the hard-hitting 1994 auditors report on corruption was given his chiefly title there.

Joining them is Speaker of the house Afamasaga Fatu Vaili who crashed to Toalepaialii Siueva, the outspoken leader of the one-man Samoa Labour Party.

Colourful women’s affairs minister, a former heavyweight boxing champion Polataivao Fosi has also been reaching for the Kleenex. He and his SNDP opponent are both tied for votes at the Gagaifomauga electorate, that he has held for 30 years. Critics believe his election week antics, where he collared a journalist and threatened to bring 200 villagers to kill him, could knock him out of the political

ring for good.

Ironically, the dumped cabinet minis ters and the speaker had one thing in com mon. None were implicated in the Auditors Report. That says volumes about the fickleness of Samoan politics.

Others contemplating the meaning of life include Papalii Moli Malietoa, the son of the country’s head of state, who bombed as an Independent in his first bid for par liament.

And the leaders of two other parties, Aiono Leulumoega Sofara (Samoa Liberals) and Matatumua Maioaga of the Samoa All Peoples Party were both sitting members.

For Tuiatua, a one-time prime minister, the spectre of the SNDP sitting on the opposition benches into the 21st century is a lot worse for democracy than any heart conditions his political opponents might be suffering. Worse still, a return to the SNDP’s often impotent efforts to bring the government to account, could see a one party state emerge in all but name.

“Everyone is negotiating with the Independents right now, even the HRPP, and given the circumstances it’s politically imperative we try and swing as many as

Samoa Labour Party MP Tolepaialii Siueva...lndependent MP’s would be vulnerable to questionable deals from either side

Picture: Chris Peteru

possible our way,” he said.

Sweet talk may not be enough, but sweeteners for political party support could prove more of an incentive than principles. With no legal limit on how much a candidate can spend to be elected, millions of tala have been handed over during the campaign to haul in the votes.

So, the chances of a pay back or the promise of political favours could prove too strong for some.

Samoa Labour Party MP Toalepaialii Siueva says Independent MPs would be vulnerable to questionable deals from either side.

“Most of them are broke now, and may take money for that reason. I mean plenty of people in Samoan politics have free loaded before and plenty more are going to try and help themselves this time.”

Realistically, the odds of the SNDP

currying enough favour to swing

Independents over to form a government are slim.

In an election night speech Tofilau said he expected the support of at least four Independents, who had earlier wanted to be HRPP candidates, but selections had already been made. He expects the HRPP to be returned with 27 seats, seven shy of the pre-election caucus.

Although favoured to come back for a second consecutive term as government, the HRPP caucus have pulled the wagons around and set-up camp at their headquar ters near Apia, and have refused to talk to the media.

Like the Boy Scouts, the HRPP camps have become something of a tradition. In 1991, the campers stayed out for three weeks, as final results came through and

initial strategies talked over.

Speculation is the main camp fire sin galong, will be whether to elect a new prime minister given Tofilaus’ poor condi tion. Having returned from overseas treat ment only 12 days before the election, Tofilau has kept public appearances to a minimum, and looked tired and frail.

If he does step down, the HRPP could easily splinter as the internal rift between wannabe leaders finance minister Tuilaepa Sailele, and agriculture minister Misa Telefoni continues to widen. The large number of egos in the HRPP is well known, and could create more friction. ■