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That was F.A.S.T: Samoa’s Snap Election Results Are Out- Fa’atuatua I le Atua Samoa Ua Tasi Party Is In

September 10th, 2025

by Jasmine Koria

The Head of State of the Independent State of Samoa has issued the Official Warrant of Elections, following the completion of vote counting for all fifty-one electoral constituencies after the country’s snap elections which ran from August 28 to the 29.

The Fa’atuatua I Le Atua Samoa Ua Tasi Party (famously abbreviated on social media as F.A.S.T) have commanded a landslide lead, even unseating several members of Prime Minister Afioga Fiame Naomi Mata’afa’s cabinet. The final numbers, prior to any upcoming legal or traditional challenges, and as per the Samoa Observer and Samoa’s Office of the Electoral Commission, are as follows:

  1. Fa’atuatua I le Atua Samoa Ua Tasi Party (F.A.S.T)- 30 Seats
  2. Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P)- 14 Seats
  3. Samoa Uniting Party/ Samoa Ua Potopoto (S.U.P)- 3 Seats
  4. Independent Candidates- 4 Seats

The counting period, which extended into early September, included the tallying of ‘Special Votes’ as were cast by some pensioners, those who were in hospital or unable to travel to voting stations in their villages of origin (or villages of registration), healthcare workers who were on duty during polling, and similar exceptional circumstances. Electoral officers worked lengthy shifts to ensure the complete and accurate counting of all national ballot papers.

As per Samoa’s mandatory 10 per cent quota for women in government, six female candidates, including soon-to-be-outgoing Prime Minister Afioga Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, are expected to be in the country’s next national leadership caucus. Several first-time parliamentarians are set to enter elected office as well, including former National University of Samoa Vice Chancellor and former Ministry of Health Chief Executive Officer, Afioga Aiono Dr. Alec Ekeroma.

One district, Faleata 2, did not go to the polls; pre-election court proceedings deemed only the current member, Afioga Leatinu’u Wayne So’oialo, eligible to contest. A member of the Samoa Ua Potopoto (S.U.P) Party, he will again represent his constituency for the next five years. Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P) leader- veteran politician, economist, high chief, and former Prime Minister of Samoa-Afioga Dr Tuila’epa Lupesoli’ai Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, has publicly stated his intention to challenge the current electoral results in court.

Samoa’s daily newspaper, the Samoa Observer, hosted a live electoral and voting count feed on its website. The newspaper lifted its paywall at the beginning of the snap election, in a bid to provide all Samoans with equal access to accurate election updates.

This is a developing story.

Sources:

Samoa Observer Newspaper: https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/election

Samoa Office of the Electoral Commission: https://www.oec.gov.ws/

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About the author

Jasmine Koria

Jasmine Koria has a keen interest in youth work and community development. She has served as an educator, educational administrator and educational consultant for several years. She is also a published writer. Aside from teaching and writing, Jasmine enjoys serving Samoa and the Pacific in various international spaces and diplomatic capacities. Her ambitions include helping to raise literacy levels in the developing Pacific and strengthening the relationships between Commonwealth countries.

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by Jasmine Koria

The Head of State of the Independent State of Samoa has issued the Official Warrant of Elections, following the completion of vote counting for all fifty-one electoral constituencies after the country’s snap elections which ran from August 28 to the 29.

The Fa’atuatua I Le Atua Samoa Ua Tasi Party (famously abbreviated on social media as F.A.S.T) have commanded a landslide lead, even unseating several members of Prime Minister Afioga Fiame Naomi Mata’afa’s cabinet. The final numbers, prior to any upcoming legal or traditional challenges, and as per the Samoa Observer and Samoa’s Office of the Electoral Commission, are as follows:

  1. Fa’atuatua I le Atua Samoa Ua Tasi Party (F.A.S.T)- 30 Seats
  2. Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P)- 14 Seats
  3. Samoa Uniting Party/ Samoa Ua Potopoto (S.U.P)- 3 Seats
  4. Independent Candidates- 4 Seats

The counting period, which extended into early September, included the tallying of ‘Special Votes’ as were cast by some pensioners, those who were in hospital or unable to travel to voting stations in their villages of origin (or villages of registration), healthcare workers who were on duty during polling, and similar exceptional circumstances. Electoral officers worked lengthy shifts to ensure the complete and accurate counting of all national ballot papers.

As per Samoa’s mandatory 10 per cent quota for women in government, six female candidates, including soon-to-be-outgoing Prime Minister Afioga Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, are expected to be in the country’s next national leadership caucus. Several first-time parliamentarians are set to enter elected office as well, including former National University of Samoa Vice Chancellor and former Ministry of Health Chief Executive Officer, Afioga Aiono Dr. Alec Ekeroma.

One district, Faleata 2, did not go to the polls; pre-election court proceedings deemed only the current member, Afioga Leatinu’u Wayne So’oialo, eligible to contest. A member of the Samoa Ua Potopoto (S.U.P) Party, he will again represent his constituency for the next five years. Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P) leader- veteran politician, economist, high chief, and former Prime Minister of Samoa-Afioga Dr Tuila’epa Lupesoli’ai Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, has publicly stated his intention to challenge the current electoral results in court.

Samoa’s daily newspaper, the Samoa Observer, hosted a live electoral and voting count feed on its website. The newspaper lifted its paywall at the beginning of the snap election, in a bid to provide all Samoans with equal access to accurate election updates.

This is a developing story.

Sources:

Samoa Observer Newspaper: https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/election

Samoa Office of the Electoral Commission: https://www.oec.gov.ws/

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