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1976 Western Samoan general election

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1976 Western Samoan general election

← 1973 21 February 1976 1979 →

All 47 seats in the Legislative Assembly
  First party
 
Party Independents
Last election 47 seats
Seats won 47
Seat change Steady

Prime Minister before election

Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV
Acting
Independent

Subsequent Prime Minister

Tupuola Efi
Independent

General elections were held in Western Samoa on 21 February 1976. All candidates ran as independents and voting was restricted to Matai and citizens of European origin ("individual voters"), with the Matai electing 45 MPs and Europeans two.[1] Following the election, Tupuola Efi became prime minister.

Background

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In the aftermath of the previous election held in 1973, parliament elected Fiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II to another non-consecutive term as prime minister, defeating the incumbent Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV and challenger Tupuola Efi.[2] Fiamē served as Western Samoa's head of government until his death two years later in 1975. The O le Ao o le Malo (head of state) Malietoa Tanumafili II appointed Tupua Tamasese to serve as acting prime minister until the next election.[3]

Campaign

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A total of 169 candidates contested the 47 seats. Four seats had only one candidate, who was returned unopposed.[4]

Results

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Of the 36 incumbent MLAs contesting the elections, only 14 were re-elected. Ministers Alfonso Philipp and Fepuleai Samuelu were amongst those losing their seats.[3]

PartyVotes%Seats
Independents9,203100.0047
Total9,203100.0047
Valid votes9,20398.95
Invalid/blank votes981.05
Total ballots cast
Registered voters/turnout12,254
Source: Nohlen et al.

Aftermath

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The election result in Fa'asaleleaga No. 4 where I'iga Suafole had won by one vote was overturned following a petition by runner-up Mulitalo Siafausa, who claimed that unqualified voters had participated in the election. The Supreme Court annulled one vote for Suafole, and a by-election was ordered for the seat.[5]

Following the elections, the Legislative Assembly elected Leota Leuluaiali'i Ituau Ale as Speaker. In the contest for prime minister, Tupuola Efi defeated the incumbent Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV by 31 votes to 16, becoming the first prime minister not to hold one of the four Tama-a-Aiga titles.[3] Efi appointed a nine-member cabinet, while Lealofi resigned from the Assembly and was elected to the Council of Deputies.[3]

Position Minister
Prime Minister Tupuola Efi
Minister of Agriculture Fuimaono Mimio
Minister of Communications Tofaeono Tile
Minister of Economic Affairs Asi Eikeni
Minister of Education Lilomaiava Niko
Minister of Finance Vaovasamanaia Filipo
Minister of Justice Ulualofaiga Talamaivao Niko
Minister of Lands Mano Togamau
Minister of Works Letiu Tamatoa

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p782 ISBN 0-19-924959-8
  2. ^ "Stomachs, cars and liquor bars loomed large in Samoa election". Pacific Islands Monthly. April 1973. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d Tupuola Efi dispels a myth and upsets a Samoan tradition Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1976, pp29–30
  4. ^ Campaigning at the bar Pacific Islands Monthly, March 1976, p75
  5. ^ One lousy vote! Pacific Islands Monthly, June 1976, p11