Samoa First Party

Samoa First (Samoan: Fa'amuamua Samoa), officially the Samoa First Political Party, is a political party in Samoa. The party is nationalist, supporting the protection of customary lands[1] and opposing Chinese immigration.[2] It is led by Unasa Iuni Sapolu.[3]

Samoa First
Fa'amuamua Samoa
LeaderUnasa Iuni Sapolu
FoundedJuly 2018
IdeologySamoan nationalism
Populism
Legislative Assembly
0 / 54

The party was registered in July 2018.[4] In March 2019 the party unsuccessfully contested the Fa'asalelega No. 2 byelection.[5][6] Following the by-election the party's candidate, Lema'i Faioso Sione, was banished from his village for not supporting the candidate backed by the village council.[7][8]

The party held its official launch in February 2020.[9] It then began to prepare to contest the 2021 Samoan general election.[10][11]

In May 2020 the party joined other opposition parties in calling for the Land and Titles Bill to be delayed.[12]

The party launched its manifesto in October 2020, promising to repeal the Land Titles Registration Act 2008. It initially endorsed 10 candidates for the 2021 election.[13] but ultimately only nominated 6.[14] On 11 December 2020 the party announced an electoral alliance with the Tautua Samoa Party and Sovereign Independent Samoa Party, under which the parties would support each other's candidates in seats where they are not running against one another.[15]

During the 2021 election the party did not win any seats and earned a total of 207 votes nationwide.[16]

Electoral history
Election Votes  % Seats +/– Rank Government
2021 207 0.23
0 / 51
 New Increase 4th Extra-parliamentary

References
  1. "Samoa First leader aims to stop customary land leasing". RNZ. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  2. "New political party in Samoa proposes China immigration ban". RNZ. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  3. Catherine Graue (8 August 2018). "New 'Samoa First Party' political party wants to challenge status quo". ABC. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  4. "New political party registered in Samoa". RNZ. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  5. "New Samoa party to contest by-election this month". RNZ. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  6. "Samoa ruling party candidate wins by-election". RNZ. 25 March 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  7. "Samoa First sues village council over candidate expulsion". RNZ. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  8. "Banned Samoa politician seeks mediation". RNZ. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  9. Soli Wilson (20 February 2020). "Samoa First Party launched, calls out P.M." Samoa Observer. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  10. Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (28 April 2020). "2021 General Election date confirmed". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  11. "Samoan 2021 election date announced". RNZ. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  12. "Samoa political parties call on PM to delay controversial bills". RNZ. 1 May 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  13. Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (10 October 2020). "Samoa First reveals election plan in Savai'i". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  14. Soli Wilson (23 October 2020). "The 200 to contest 2021 general election". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  15. Soli Wilson (11 December 2020). "Tautua, Samoa First and S.I.S. announce election alliance". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  16. Adam Carr. "Independent State of Samoa". Psephos. Retrieved 4 February 2022.


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