Samoa’s Caretaker Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa’ilele Malielegaoi says he and his ruling Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) are ready to serve as opposition in Parliament if the voters should elect a new government in the May 21st snap elections.
He says he believes the nation should go back to the polls because the people’s choice “was not clear” after the April 9th General Elections.
Samoa Observer reports Tuilaepa also advised voters to choose a party whose leaders will be beneficial for their children in the future.
Speaking on state radio 2AP last week, Tuilaepa pointed out HRPP initiatives over the years including the switch to right-hand drive vehicles and the pension scheme.
“We do not do things that temporarily satisfy the people and wanting to be nice; we do things that are permanent and this is why there is the current decision to go back to the general election,” he said.
Tuilaepa said the snap election is the righteous thing to do considering they are giving the choice back to the people, instead of a few judges deciding for the rest of Samoa.
“Who are we going back to? We are going back to the people for clarification. They have the power,” he said.
He said a court of only two or three judges cannot choose a Government but rather the whole nation.
“Going back to the people of 200,000 to come to make the decision is the most righteous things to do.”
He believes rival Faatuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party leader Fiame Naomi Mataafa should have also supported the new move instead of “complaining and attacking the Head of State.”
“These are not the actions of royalty. These are not the ways of a nobleman of Samoa,” Tuilaepa added.
“If the election says we have to leave this office, we won’t wait any longer to do that so we can start preparations on how to contribute to Samoa as the opposition.
“We also wish to go to our families but the reason we remain here is that we have to observe the law. What the FAST are claiming is not right, and we do not accept it.”
Last week, Fiame said Samoan voters gave her party the right to govern at last month’s election.
Tuilaepa said if the result of the upcoming May 21st Election says they have to surrender government, the party “will leave happy and with gratitude to God for these long years we served Samoa.”
“Then they (FAST) can come in to do their part. These things do not belong to us, it belongs to all the people of Samoa,” he said.
