Two of Samoa's leading opposition parties will on Wednesday announce plans to join forces ahead of next year's general election, the Samoa Observer can reveal. 

The Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) party and the Samoa National Democratic Party (S.N.D.P.) will announce merger plans on Wednesday, sources said. 

Leaders of the two parties did not reveal details of the merger plans. But the Samoa Observer has learnt that members of both met on Tuesday, before an announcement scheduled for noon on Wednesday.

The S.N.D.P. party was launched in September, 2019; it is the recreation of the old Samoa National Development Party. 

Last month, they appointed Valasi Luapitofanua Toogamaga Tafito Selesele as their leader. 

F.A.S.T. was registered in July this year. 

Eleven members officially registered the party at the Office of the Electoral Commission before announcing its manifesto. 

Recently re-elected Member of Parliament, La'aulialemalitea Leuatea Schmidt, the Chairman of F.A.S.T, said the party had attracted 50 candidates, from each of the nation's constituencies.