Samoa

Legislative Assembly

Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Unicameral
IPU membership
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)
04 Mar 2016
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
29 Jan 2016
Timing of election
Upon normal expiry
Number of seats at stake
49
Scope of elections
Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election
2
Total number of candidates
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
147
Number of female candidates
24
Percentage of women candidates
14.0%

Voter turnout

Registered voters
100,097
Voters
73,132
Voter turnout
73.1%

Results

About the election

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
2
Percentage of parties winning seats
100.0%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
71.4%
Alternation of power after elections
No
Number of parties in government
1
Names of parties in government
Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP)

Parties or coalitions winning seats

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
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
45
Total number of women after the election
5
Percentage of women after the election
10.0%
First-term parliamentarians
No information available
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
No information available
Date of the first session
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
Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP)
Date of election
16 Mar 2016

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No