12 Mar 2016

HRPP 47 seats, Tautua three - official result from Samoa election

3:46 pm on 12 March 2016

The official results of Samoa's general election have confirmed the Human Rights Protection Party will go into Parliament with 47 seats while the opposition Tautua will only have three.

Faaulusau Rosa Duffy Stowers and three of her supporters.

Faaulusau Rosa Duffy Stowers and three of her supporters. Photo: RNZI/Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia

It also confirmed that five Government Ministers, eight associate Ministers and the deputy speaker were all defeated in last Friday's election.

The opposition Tautua Samoa party has lost nine former MPs including the party's leader, Palusalue Faapo II.

The official results also announced Fa'aulusau Rosa Duffy Stowers, from the constituency of Gagaifomauga number 3, as the first female MP to take the fifth reserved parliamentary seat for women in the 16th Parliament.

Fa'aulusau ran against the speaker of Parliament Laauli Polataivao Leuatea Schmidt.

Our correspondent says this is the first time the Samoa Parliament will have 50 seats under the new amendments.

In 2013, Samoa's Parliament unanimously endorsed an amendment to the constitution which allowed five parliamentary seats to be reserved for women.