Samoan P.M. survives petition

Press, 25 September 1982, Page 3

Samoan P.M. survives petition

NZPA special correspondent Apia The new Government of the Western Samoan Prime Minister. Tupuola Efi. has survived an electoral petition that could have put it back on the Opposition benches. The Supreme Court yesterday rejected a petition against a Government member of Parliament. Vaovasamania Filipo. after a two-day hearing. The ruling ensures for the newly appointed Government of Tupuola Efi a majority of one in the Legislative Assembly. Tupuola was recalled by the head of State when the post of Prime Minister was vacated by Va’ai Kolone, who lost his seat last week when the Supreme Court declared his election void because of electoral malpractice. The rejection of the petition against Vaovasamania. who was Minister of Finance in the previous Government of Tupuola Efi. has pre-

vented a further upheaval in Western Samoan politics. According to sources, the Opposition had planned to petition the head of State to change the government again, if the petition had been upheld. Meanwhile. Tupuola has had a meeting with Va’ai over the possibility of forming a coalition government. Tupuola told reporters this week he would retain some of Va’ai’s Ministers in his Cabinet. Va’ai apparently rejected the proposal, but it is believed that two of Va’ai’s Ministers whom Tupuola wanted in his Cabinet have agreed to join him. The first of three by-elec-tions is scheduled for’ October 9, and Va’ai went on the radio on Thursday evening to denounce reports that he was not running in the upcoming by-election in his constituency. He said he would consult his village and if it wanted him to run again, he would.