STAY TUNED: IT AIN'T OVER
The ongoing saga of Samoa's general election just won't settle down.
As next Monday's deadline for the calling of parliament draws closer further appeals and injunctions have flooded the Court.
In true form and not unexpected the caretaker Prime Minister has appealed both Constitutional decisions of the Supreme Court. He is seeking the reinstatement of the additional seat for women, the scrapping of the April 9 election results and the conduct of a new election using a modified ballot paper.
The grounds for his appeal are not entirely clear. However, one major issue appears to be the calculation of the majority party seats. The PM argues that 24 FAST seats plus 2 Independent seats does not equal 26 seats - one more than that of the HRPP.
Under the Constitution the 2 Independents can only declare their allegiance to FAST on the floor of parliament. Only then will 24 + 2 = 26.
Needless to say the leader of FAST Fiame Naomi Mataafa has wasted no time in informing the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly and the Head of State of FAST's willingness and ability to form a majority government.
It is critical that this be done by Monday 24 May, the 45th day following the election.
Just to add to the mix, further sub-plots are also developing. The Office of the Electoral Commission and the woman who was belatedly added to parliament only to be unanimously rejected by the Supreme Court, have both lodged injunctions seeking a strategy of execution. It is understood that these are to be heard today 19 May.
While businesses are struggling with the fall out of the election which just wont go away, a poor economy and the ongoing Covid SOE, it is good to see some businesses thriving. Local law firms are doing extremely well not just to date but with the numerous challenges and appeals yet to be heard.
Also doing well are the local telcos selling data packages quicker than the news can be spread. The twists, turns and plot thickening of the election is happening so fast that traditional print media just cannot cope.
Stay tuned!