Samoa
Legislative Assembly
-
Political system
Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
View field in the data dictionary -
Parliamentary system
-
Structure of parliament
Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
View field in the data dictionary -
Unicameral
-
IPU membership
Current membership status
View field in the data dictionary -
Yes
Election results
Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.
Background
-
Election date(s)
The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
View field in the data dictionary -
04 Mar 2016
-
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
View field in the data dictionary -
29 Jan 2016
-
Timing of election
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
View field in the data dictionary -
Upon normal expiry
-
Number of seats at stake
Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
View field in the data dictionary -
49
-
Scope of elections
Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
View field in the data dictionary -
Full renewal
Candidates
-
Number of parties contesting the election
This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
View field in the data dictionary -
2
-
Total number of candidates
Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
View field in the data dictionary -
171
Notes: Number of seats at stake: 49. One more seat was added after the elections in accordance with Constitution Amendment Act 2013.
-
Number of male candidates
Number of male candidates
View field in the data dictionary -
147
-
Number of female candidates
Number of female candidates
View field in the data dictionary -
24
-
Percentage of women candidates
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
View field in the data dictionary -
14.0%
Voter turnout
-
Registered voters
Number of people registered to vote
View field in the data dictionary -
100,097
-
Voters
Number of people who actually voted
View field in the data dictionary -
73,132
-
Voter turnout
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
View field in the data dictionary -
73.1%
Results
-
About the election
Short description of the context and results of the election.
View field in the data dictionary -
Following the elections, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi's Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) held a record 47 seats of the 49 seats at stake. The HRPP has been in power since 1979. The 70-year-old Prime Minister, who has held the post since 1998, was re-elected unopposed for a record 9th term in the Legislative Assembly, while other veteran HRPP members were replaced by younger HRPP candidates. The opposition Tautua Samoa Party (TSP) saw its seats reduced from 13 to three, falling short of the eight MPs needed to qualify as a parliamentary party. TSP leader Mr. Palusalue Fa'apo II lost his seat.
During the election campaign, the HRPP ran on the government's record, promising to create more jobs for young people and to "further the social and economic wellbeing of the Samoan people". The TSP promised to offer free medical care for all children under five years old and better health insurance for others.
The 2016 elections were the first to be held after the Constitution Amendment Act 2013 came into force. It requires a minimum 10% of the 49-member Legislative Assembly to be women, i.e., at least five women. Since four women were elected in 2016, an additional woman member (the unsuccessful candidate with the highest number of votes) was added to the Legislative Assembly. The number of members in the 2016 legislature has thus increased to 50.
-
Number of parties winning seats
The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
View field in the data dictionary -
2
-
Percentage of parties winning seats
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
View field in the data dictionary -
100.0%
-
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
View field in the data dictionary -
71.4%
-
Alternation of power after elections
The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
View field in the data dictionary -
No
-
Number of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
View field in the data dictionary -
1
-
Names of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
View field in the data dictionary -
Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP)
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group | Total | First Session |
---|---|---|
Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) | 35 | 47 |
Independents | 13 | 0 |
Tautua Samoa Party (TSP) | 2 | 3 |
Members elected, by sex
- Number of men elected
-
45
- Number of women elected
-
5
-
Percentage of women elected
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected by the number of seats filled.
View field in the data dictionary -
10.0%
- Women Directly Elected
-
5
- Other notes on the elections
-
The figures under "Total" refer to the election results based on each member's nomination as recorded on the ballot papers for the election.
- The number of seats held by the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) includes four candidates elected unopposed;
- The number of independents includes one additional woman who became a member of the Legislative Assembly by virtue of the Constitution Amendment Act 2013.
The figures under "First session" refer to the political composition of the Legislative Assembly at the moment of the first session, held on 16 March 2016.
- Sources
-
Office of the Electoral Commissioner (05.04.2016)
Parliament of Samoa
New legislature
-
Total number of men after the election
The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
View field in the data dictionary -
45
-
Total number of women after the election
The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
View field in the data dictionary -
5
-
Percentage of women after the election
The percentage is calculated by dividing the total number of women in this parliament/chamber by the current number of members.
View field in the data dictionary -
10.0%
-
First-term parliamentarians
The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.
View field in the data dictionary -
No information available
-
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of first-term parliamentarians by the number of seats at stake in the election.
View field in the data dictionary -
No information available
-
Date of the first session
The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
View field in the data dictionary -
16 Mar 2016
First Speaker of the new legislature
- Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
-
Le'aupepe Toleafoa Fa'afisi (Male)
-
Political party
The political party to which the Speaker belonged to at the moment of the election. In some parliaments, the Speaker suspends or relinquishes their party membership during their term in office and is considered as an independent member.
View field in the data dictionary -
Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP)
-
Date of election
The date of the election of the Speaker may be different from the date of the first session of the new legislature.
View field in the data dictionary -
16 Mar 2016