Samoa court of appeal voids challenge for extra women's seat

Samoa's Court of Appeal has voided the challenge of an HRPP women's candidate that she was wrongly removed as an MP.

Aliimalemanu Alofa Tuuau had been appointed as the 6th woman's MP by the Electoral Commissioner and then had her appointment rescinded in a decision by the Supreme Court.

That decision gave the newcomer FAST party the slimmest majority in the new parliament and the latest decision now confirms that.

But as FAST party lawyer, Taulapapa Brenda Heather-Latu, explains, the court also ruled that six women MPs is the correct number under the Samoan system of reserving parliamentary seats for women.