Samoa’s caretaker Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi and leader of the newly formed Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST Party) Fiame Naomi Mataafa have addressed the nation this evening as the votes continue to be counted from today’s 2021 General Election.
Both leaders thanked the people of Samoa for exercising their constitutional right to vote and congratulated the Office of the Electoral Commission, Police, Media and all officials for the running of today’s election. As the leaders and parties await the final results, both leaders said now was the time to rest and reflect and give thanks to God and may he continue to guide Samoa.
Tuilaepa and Fiame both acknowledge that it may take a couple of weeks before the final result is known. Petitions to the courts may influence the final outcome of the election.
Samoa Observer reports the race to form a new government has come down to the wire. 189 candidates stood in this years election for one of 51 seats for a five-year term in the Legislative Assembly of Samoa.
Image credit: Talamua Media/Government of Samoa