Pacific

Tautua Samoa's Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi loses parliamentary seat

05:02 am on 17 May 2010

The founder of the Tautua Samoa party, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, has lost his parliamentary seat in the by-elections triggered by his party.

Preliminary results show that the Faleata West seat has gone to a candidate of the ruling HRPP, Ale Vena.

However, the Tautua Samoa candidate for Safata, Palusalue Faapo II, has retained his seat, narrowly defeating the former CEO of the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Auseuga'efa Vaasatia Poloma Komiti.

The newly established Tautua Samoa party has now two seats in parliament but because of the requirements of the standing orders, it cannot be recognised in the house as it needs to have nine MPs.