2 Jul 2009

Tautua Samoa party awaits a court ruling on disqualification of its nine MPs

10:43 am on 2 July 2009

The Supreme Court in Samoa will today deliver a ruling on the legal action by the Tautua Samoa Party, which is seeking a court injunction against the Speaker's ruling in May in which he declared all nine party seats vacant.

The Speaker says forming a party during the Parliamentary term is a breach of standing orders.

But the party asserts that the Speaker, Tolofuaivalelei Falemoe Lei'ataua, has no jurisdiction in law to annul any parliamentary seat.

It says only the court can do this.

Last week the Party had tried unsuccessfully to stop the Electoral Commissioner from preparing for by-elections in their constituencies.