Tautua welcomes old opposition party

By Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong 10 March 2019, 12:00AM

The Tautua Party has welcomed news of the reform and possible return of the old opposition party, the Samoa National Development Party (S.N.D.P.)

While the political parties have a common enemy, the ruling Human Rights Protection Party, Tautua Executive President, Afualo Dr. Wood Salele confirmed they are not merging. 

Earlier last week, founding member of S.N.D.P. Vui Seigafolava Masinamua revealed plans to revive the party claiming pressure from the public and older generation to reform the party.

The S.N.D.P. was the main opposition party in Samoa between 1988 and 2003. 

“We wish them luck,” Afualo said in a telephone interview with the Sunday Samoan

“No there is no merging and we don’t intend to. Tautua is an established party and we have our own supporters…we have our own mandates.”

Afualo declined to comment further but wished Vui well on his mission as well as the emerging Samoa’s First Political Party. 

Despite Tautua’s failure to secure numbers to have its party recognized as a political party it is very active and functioning under an executive committee, said Afualo. 

Since the H.R.P.P's landslide win in 2011 general election retaining 46 out of 49 seats the Tautua Party was silent leaving few Members of Parliament in the likes of Olo Fiti Va’ai to oppose government in parliament sittings.  

In the 2011 general election Olo ran as an Independent Member. 

Asked about Tautua not making noise, Afualo assured that they are not sleeping, they are making preparations for the 2021 general election. 

He pointed out their absence in the eye of the public is “to let the people judge the current government for themselves”. 

“It was decided in our executive meeting that we (Tautua) will no longer respond to the government affairs publicly and leave it to the people. 

“We are preparing and we will be coming back stronger than before.” 

By Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong 10 March 2019, 12:00AM

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