#OPINION FAST - Faatuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi CARVES ITS WAY TOWARDS HISTORY and VICTORY

By Va'ai Nah Folasa

Samoa's 2021 will go down in history as a true game changer.

The official results have the two major parties each with 25 seats and an Independent candidate may yet hold the balance of power.

It is expected that there will be a flurry of legal challenges. Leaders of both parties have indicated this. Ultimately it will be the Court who is the final arbiter.
Regardless of the final tally, Samoa's political landscape has changed forever.

It is clear that after some 40 years in power the HRPP no longer have ultimate and unfettered control in parliament.  Whether voters were expressing outright dissatisfaction or whether they just believed it was time for a change remains to be seen.

It is also evident that Samoa is more than happy to be led by a woman. Fiame Naomi Mataafa held her seat at Lotofaga uncontested and went on to become leader of  the new FAST party. With a strong political pedigree, her very public departure from the HRPP was perhaps an early sign that things were not all well within the ranks. Fiame and her Deputy went on to campaign across the country. They listened to the people and yesterday the people showed they heard the message.

The XVII Parliament will certainly mark a new beginning. Gone is the arrogance and complacency of power. Gone too is the two thirds majority enabling snap decision making and the swift passage of legislation.

Samoa welcomes a new and as yet unfinalised parliament. It welcomes open and honest debate from an opposition which may in fact be the former ruling party. It welcomes the increase in women representation. And most of all it welcomes change.

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Va'ai Nah Folasa is a journalist for EyeSpy Radio in Samoa