Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi explained

Samoa United in Faith
Native Name:Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi
Founded:30 July 2020
Leader:Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa
Leader2 Title:Deputy Leader
Leader2 Name:La'auli Leuatea Polataivao[1]
Seats1 Title:Legislative Assembly
Country:Samoa
Ideology:Anti-Land and Titles Bill
Christian democracy
Anti-corruption
Social conservatism[2]
Split:Human Rights Protection Party

Samoan: Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi|italics=no (FAST;) is a political party in Samoa. It was founded by MP La'auli Leuatea Polataivao[3] and is currently led by Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa.

Formation

The party was registered on 30 July 2020, and in August 2020 began announcing candidates for the 2021 Samoan general election.[4] It opposes controversial constitutional amendments proposed by the Human Rights Protection Party government of Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, and supports a two term limit for the prime minister.[5] It also supports decentralising services to villages.[6]

On 28 August 2020, party leader La'auli Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt was re-elected to Parliament in the 2020 Gagaifomauga No. 3 by-election. Thus becoming the party’s first elected MP.[7] [8] [9]

On 2 September 2020, the party announced it would join forces with the Samoa National Democratic Party and Tumua ma Puleono parties to contest the 2021 election.[10] SNDP and Tumua ma Puleono candidates ran under the FAST banner, with only one candidate in each constituency.[11]

Following the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa from Cabinet, the FAST party invited her to lead it. She declined, as she wished to complete the Parliamentary term.[12] On 13 January 2021 Mata'afa announced that she would be joining FAST after Parliament has risen for the election.[13] [14] In March 2021 she was elected to lead FAST.[15]

2021 election

See main article: 2021 Samoan general election. The party nominated 50 candidates for the 2021 election.[16] It engaged in online fundraising, and by 12 January had raised AUD$19,277 (WST$37,102.18) via Australian crowdfunding site MyCause.[17] In January 2021 it began an "election roadshow",[18] Prime Minister Tuilaepa denounced the roadshow as a "foreign practice",[19] and encouraged his supporters to gatecrash FAST events to counter the party's "brainwashing".[20]

On 13 January 2021, former Prime Minister and O le Ao o le Malo (Head of State) Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi publicly backed the party.[21]

On 29 January, the party revealed that it had begun talks with the Tautua Samoa Party to form a "grand coalition" to oust the government.[22]

Preliminary results from the 2021 election showed the party winning 25 seats in parliament.[23] Independent MP Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio later joined the FAST Party, bringing their total to 26.[24] [25] [26] Defeated Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi refused to leave office, leading to the 2021 Samoan constitutional crisis. The crisis was resolved by Samoa's Court of Appeal on 23 July 2021, which ruled that FAST had been the government since 24 May.[27]

2021 by-elections

See main article: 2021 Samoan by-elections. The party nominated candidates to contest all seven electorates up for by-elections caused by resignations and convictions on bribery and treating. The FAST caucus retained its narrow 26 seat majority in the Fono during this period, whilst the HRPP’s seat count fell from 25 to 18.[28] Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Papali’i Li’o Taeu Masipau announced that the by-elections would commence on 12 November, but the date was later shifted to 26 November.[29] [30]

FAST began campaigning on 23 October, utilising campaign strategies such as roadshows, as the party had done in the April general election.[31]

Results

A week before the election, Fuiono Tenina Crichton, FAST's candidate for the Falealupo electorate, challenged the eligibility of his HRPP opponent Tuitogamanaia Peniamina Junior Leavai in court.[32] [33] The court ruled in Fuiono’s favour resulting in the disqualification of Tuitogamanaia's candidacy. Fuiono was subsequently elected unopposed.[34] [35]

The party also secured the Aleipata-i-Lalo electorate, resulting in former Manu Samoa rugby coach Faleomavaega Titimaea Tafua's entry to Parliament.[36] The Sagaga No. 4 seat also went to FAST, with Tagaloatele Pasi Poloa securing a landslide victory over his HRPP opponent.[37] Overall preliminary results indicated that the party had secured four out of the six electorates up for a by-election (excluding Falealupo), with the Safata No. 2 and Falealili No. 2 seats going to FAST.[38] Official results confirmed this, and the new MPs were sworn in on 14 December 2021. The addition of five MPs to the FAST caucus gave the party a more comfortable majority. It also eliminated the opposition HRPP's efforts to gain a majority in the 17th Parliament, using a potential deadlock to call for new polls.[39] [40] [41] One of these seats would again fall vacant the following year with the death of Va'ele Pa'ia'aua Iona Sekuini on 25 March 2022.[42] He was succeeded by Fo'isala Lilo Tu'u Ioane who, was elected as an independent but later joined FAST.[43]

Leadership

PortraitLeaderTerm of office
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
La'auli Leuatea Polataivao30 July 20209 March 2021
Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa
9 March 2021Incumbent

Electoral history

Legislative Assembly

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi.
  2. Web site: Aualiitia . Tahlea . Undecided Samoan election deadlocked as opposition FAST party, boosted by diaspora, exceeds expectations – ABC News . ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) . 2021-04-14 . 2021-05-11.
  3. Web site: F.A.S.T. political party officially registers. Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi . Samoa Observer . 30 July 2020 . 21 August 2020.
  4. Web site: Bus driver heeds heavenly whisper, stands for Parliament . Samoa Observer . 28 August 2020 . 29 August 2020.
  5. Web site: FAST Aims to Limit the PM's Term in Office . Talanei . 30 July 2020 . 29 August 2020.
  6. Web site: New Samoan party calls for limit on terms for PM . RNZ . 31 July 2020 . 29 August 2020.
  7. Web site: La'auli declared by-election winner . Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi . Samoa Observer . 18 August 2020 . 28 August 2020.
  8. Web site: Former Speaker tops prelim results in Samoan by-election . RNZ . 28 August 2020 . 28 August 2020.
  9. Web site: La'auli opens new political chapter . Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi . Samoa Observer . 28 August 2020 . 29 August 2020.
  10. Web site: Samoa's ruling party faces new threat – after nearly 40 years in power . Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson . The Guardian . 2 September 2020 . 3 September 2020.
  11. Web site: Parties join forces ahead of General Election . Joyetter Feagaimaali'i . Samoa Observer . 2 September 2020 . 3 September 2020.
  12. Web site: Fiame says she won't join another party . Lanuola Tusani Tupufia – Ah Tong . Samoa Observer . 13 September 2020 . 14 September 2020.
  13. Web site: Samoa's former Deputy PM to join new political party . RNZ . 13 January 2021 . 13 January 2021.
  14. Web site: Fiame, FAST to make it official . Soli Wilson . Samoa Observer . 12 January 2021 . 13 January 2021.
  15. Web site: Fiame to lead Samoa's FAST Party. RNZ. 9 March 2021. 17 March 2021.
  16. Web site: The 200 to contest 2021 general election . Soli Wilson . Samoa Observer . 23 October 2020 . 29 November 2020.
  17. Web site: F.A.S.T. raises $37,000 on Australian crowdfunding site . Tina Mata'afa-Tufele . Samoa Observer . 12 January 2021 . 13 January 2021.
  18. Web site: F.A.S.T. kicks off election roadshow . Soli Wilson . Samoa Observer . 4 January 2021 . 14 January 2021.
  19. Web site: F.A.S.T. roadshow a foreign practice: P.M. Tuilaepa . Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi . Samoa Observer . 8 January 2021 . 14 January 2021.
  20. Web site: Crash F.A.S.T. roadshows to counter "brainwashing": P.M. . Joyetter Feagaimaali'i . Samoa Observer . 13 January 2021 . 14 January 2021.
  21. Web site: F.A.S.T. roadshow rolls on to Falealili 2 . Soli Wilson . Samoa Observer . 14 October 2021 . 15 January 2021.
  22. Web site: Opposition parties discuss grand coalition . Samoa Observer . Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi . 29 January 2021 . 30 January 2021.
  23. Web site: Independents hold power in forming next Samoa govt . RNZ . 10 April 2021 . 10 April 2021.
  24. Web site: Tuala joins F.A.S.T.; insists he's still "kingmaker" . Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi . Samoa Observer . 21 April 2021 . 21 April 2021.
  25. Web site: Fiame Confirms Tuala's Decision to Join FAST . Sina Retzlaff . Samoa Global News . 21 April 2021 . 21 April 2021.
  26. Web site: Samoa election: Independent MP sides with new FAST party . RNZ . 21 April 2021 . 21 April 2021.
  27. Web site: F.A.S.T. declared new Government as appeal upheld . Samoa Observer . Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong . 23 July 2021 . 23 July 2021.
  28. Web site: Free and fair by-elections crucial . Samoa Observer . 31 October 2021 . 25 October 2021.
  29. Web site: Speaker rules on corrupt arrangement issue raised by Court . Samoa Observer . 31 October 2021 . 12 October 2021.
  30. Web site: Speaker unaware by-election dates have changed . Talamua Online . 31 October 2021 . 15 October 2021.
  31. Web site: F.A.S.T. campaign kicks off this weekend . Samoa Observer . Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi . 19 October 2021 . 31 October 2021.
  32. Web site: Parliament Passes Electoral Amendment Bill . Talamua . Lagi Keresoma . 29 September 2021 . 26 November 2021 . 28 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211028203333/https://talamua.com/2021/09/29/parliament-passes-electoral-amendment-bill/ . dead .
  33. Web site: Savai'i voters praise electoral change . Samoa Observer . Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi . 30 September 2021 . 26 November 2021.
  34. Web site: Fuiono is the M.P. for Falealupo . Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong . Samoa Observer . 22 November 2021 . 26 November 2021.
  35. Web site: Lagi Keresoma. FAST secures Falealupo seat after Court disqualifies HRPP candidate . Talamua Online . 26 November 2021 . 22 November 2021.
  36. Web site: Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong . Faleomavaega sweeps Aleipata-i-Lalo seat . Samoa Observer . 26 November 2021 . 26 November 2021.
  37. Web site: FAST Secures Sagaga 4 Seat in Landslide Win . Samoa Global News . 26 November 2021 . 26 November 2021.
  38. Web site: Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong . F.A.S.T. tops by-elections' preliminary results . Samoa Observer . 28 November 2021 . 26 November 2021.
  39. Web site: Ganasavea Manuia Tafeaga . Warrant of Election Declares 8 Parliamentary Seats after By-elections . Samoa Global News . 30 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211205215708/https://samoaglobalnews.com/warrant-of-election-8-mps/ . 5 December 2021 . 29 November 2021 . live.
  40. Web site: Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong . H.O.S. declares April election void . Samoa Observer . 30 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211217151344/https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/83474 . 17 December 2021 . 4 May 2021 . live.
  41. Web site: Lagi Keresoma . Speaker swears in seven new Members of Parliament . Talamua Online . 30 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211214110133/https://talamua.com/2021/12/14/speaker-swears-in-seven-new-members-of-parliament/ . 14 December 2021 . 14 December 2021 . live.
  42. News: Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong . Associate Minister of Agriculture passes away . 25 March 2022 . Samoa Observer . 25 March 2022.
  43. News: Mika . Talaia . FAST Party welcomes Gagaifomauga No 2 Member of Parliament . 21 June 2022 . Talamua Online . 21 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220621052730/https://talamua.com/2022/06/21/fast-party-welcomes-gagaifomauga-no-2-member-of-parliament/ . 21 June 2022 . Apia. live.

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