All three former Human Rights Protection Party MPs who left the party to become Independents, will run the upcoming by-elections under the banner of the ruling Faatuatua i Le Atua Samoa Ua Tasi party.
In a media advisory issued on Thursday night, the FAST party confirms that Mau’u Siaosi Pu’epu’emai, Tu’uu Anasii Leota and Ale Vena Ale would all be formally presented as candidates by their respective constituencies on Friday and Saturday.
Mau’u Siaosi Pu’epu’emai, who won the Vaa-o-Fonoti seat at the April 2021 general election for HRPP, will be presented to FAST on Friday 21 July 2023.
Mau’u is the owner of the prospering and popular Georgie’s Pizza in Apia. An established business man before running the 2021 general election, Mau’us business ventures includes rental cars and cava exports.
FAST confirms that veteran MP Tu’uu Anasii Leota will be presented by Siumu constituency at 12pm on Saturday afternoon, after Ale Vena Ale is presented by Faleata 4 on Saturday morning at 10am.
Tuuu Anasii Leota was first elected into Parliament in 1996 and from 2004 – 2011 he served as Minister for Revenue and Customs in the HRPP government.
Tuuu returned in 2011and ran unsuccessfully for deputy leader of HRPP. When Ministers were later announced he was not reappointed to Cabinet.
Tuuu lost his seat in the 2016 election and was reelected in 2021. In November 2022, he announced his resignation from HRPP saying the party needed a change of leadership.
“We see that in overseas elections, when a political party loses a general election, there is a change of leadership.. however, there is no intention of the current leader to step down,” Tuuu Anasii had said at the time.
“There is a new government in power and it is time for us to support them. They are also doing what is good for Samoa.”
Both Ale Vena Ale and Tuuu Anasii were members of the Parliamentary Ethics and Governance Committee that recommended two year suspensions for HRPP’s party leader and secretary.
During their announcement to leave HRPP, both MPs admitted to not only signing off on the Ethics Committee’s recommendation, but also supported the suspension of Tuilaepa and Lealailepule from Parliament.
Ale Vena had announced his intention to run for FAST immediately after the Court decision this week that the MPs would return to by-elections as required by Electoral Act amendments put through by HRPP in January 2021.
The presentation ceremonies on Friday and Saturday will be held at the FAST party headquarters – Maota o Samoa Convention & Leisure Complex, Vaitele.
