All three former Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) members of parliament will go into the by-elections under the banner of the ruling Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi.

On Saturday the F.A.S.T. party's leaders met with representatives from two out of the three constituencies that are heading back to the polls, Faleata No. 4 and Siumu. 

The third constituency, Va'a-o-Fonoti already met with the executives of the ruling party on Friday afternoon to present their candidate.

The three candidates were accepted and welcomed by the party's Chairman and party members, promising to give the three former H.R.P.P. members their full support ahead of the upcoming by-elections. 

Speaking on behalf of the party's leader and its members, Chairman La'auli Leuatea Schmidt expressed his gratitude to the elders from Siumu and Faleata No. 4 for deciding to have their former members contest under the ruling party's banner. 

La'auli, who is also a former member of the H.R.P.P. advised the elders of the two constituencies that Ale Vena Ale and Tu'uu Anasi'i Leota, are also founding members of the former ruling party. 

He then acknowledged with appreciation their contribution and service to the development of Samoa, noting that they are novices to the political arena. But times have changed, added La'auli, and he welcomed Tu'uu and Ale to the F.A.S.T. caucus and wished them all the best for the upcoming by-elections. 

La'auli also assured the elders that the party will back the two members ahead of their by-elections and also urged the members of the respective constituencies for their support towards the two veteran parliamentarians. 

The party Chairman also used the opportunity to remind the candidates and also the constituencies to refrain from doing anything that could be seen as "corrupt practices". 

"We need to avoid heading back to court after elections," La'auli said. "So I plead with you all to be mindful of the electoral rules on bribery and corruption. 

"Let us all wait until the by-election is finished. One of the core values for this party is patience."

The by-elections for the three constituencies were triggered after the trio admitted to a parliamentary charge of vacating their seats after they resigned from the Opposition party late last year. 

The Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa were absent from the meeting on Saturday as they had other obligations. Other party members present included the owner of Talamua Media, Apulu Lance Polu.

The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Papali'i Li'o Ta'eu Masipau has not issued a by-election writ or set a date for the by-elections. The Opposition's H.R.P.P. has yet to make an announcement of their candidates to contest the three seats that were party strongholds prior to and after the 2021 General Election.