Tupuola may remain P.M.

Press, 21 August 1979, Page 6

Tupuola may remain P.M.

PA Wellington Western Samoa’s prime minister (Tupuola Efi), appears to have weathered critical by-elections at the week-end. ; Four seats were at stake in the 47-seat Legislative Assembly; they had been declared void after February’s General Election. The Electoral Court overturned the results when it found that many of the candidates had used corrupt electoral practices. Three of the four seats were held by supporters of the Prime Minister, the othe- by a member of the opposition United Human Rights Protection Party. This made Mr Tupuola head of a minority Government, because in. the March ballot for the office of Prime Minister he had received 24 votes against 23 for the Op-

. position candidate, Va’ai Ko lone. The one Opposition-heH seat contested at the week I e&4.; by-election appears ' a have been won by the Goq ernment. The ’ OppositiM candidate, -Leota Pita, : pallet 82 votes, and a new caadf date, Mapulesua Pelenatq polled 93 votes. It is believed Mr Mapu lesua would support thj Government. ' Therefore it appears thql ' Mr Tupuola has retained M position with the same nunf ber of votes he polled fron ; members of Parliament h March. The position will. not be ! come completely clear untj the Legislative Assentim sits again. It should have Sa in June, but because of th! uncertainty produced by th Electoral Court, it has beej delayed. The Assembly is el pected to be called togefhq in the next few weeks.