Samoan debate curtailed
NZPA Apia A motion of no-confidence against the Western Samoan Prime Minister, Tofilau Eti, and his Cabinet lapsed on Friday amid angry scenes in the island’s Legislative Assembly. Twenty-seven of the 47 members of the House had earlier signed their support for the motion, but the Speaker of the House, Nonumalu Sofara, declared the motion lapsed after two hours of debate. Most members of the House still had not spoken on the motion when the Speaker made his ruling and he would not allow a vote to be taken.
The Speaker’s decision drew an angry response from the former Prime Minister and leader of the Christian Democratic Party, Tupuola Efi.
“I have never heard of a Parliament in the world where a motion of no confidence was refused a vote on by a Speaker,” he said. Before the motion lapsed, Tofilau said he would not vacate the Prime Minister’s office even if the motion was carried.
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Press, 15 July 1985, Page 17
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159Samoan debate curtailed Press, 15 July 1985, Page 17
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