The Government's newest candidate for the seat of Aleipata-Itupa-i-Lalo - former Manu Samoa coach, Faleomavaega Titimaea Tafua - reflects the depth of political parties' strategising ahead of seven crucial by-elections. 

Party strategists are working on securing quality candidates and campaigning their hardest to contest the seats, all of which were vacated by formerly successful Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) candidates following post-election legal challenges. 

The outcome of the by-elections - combined with a constitutional requirement that 10 per cent of elected Members of Parliament are women - could have a decisive role on the makeup of the XVII Parliament over the next five years. They could determine if the Government can retain or increase its majority.

The ruling Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) party made the announcement on Monday night on their social media that Faleomavaega was their candidate for the seat's upcoming election. 

Faleomavaega, better known as "Dicky" coached the Manu Samoa 7's to the H.S.B.C. International 7s Series winning the Wellington Leg in 2007.

He also coached the Manu Samoa's XV to a first-ever win over the Wallabies in Australia in 2011 and coached the Manu Samoa to qualify for the 2019 World Cup. 

Fuimaono is also a Certified and Senior Referee for the Samoa Referees Association. 

Late in 2018, Fuimaono sued the S.R.U. for $140,000 for terminating his contract as the head coach of the Manu Samoa. He had claimed that the S.R.U. breached an employment contract inked in May 2018 and which was supposed to end in November 2019. 

However, the case was dismissed by the Supreme Court in 2019.

During the time of his court case against the union, Fuimaono said that he was hurt, ashamed when his service was terminated and it had a huge impact on his reputation.

However, he was asked to return back to coach the national team in 2020, but declined the call. 

The former ruling party, H.R.P.P. had secured the seat of Aleipata-Itupa-i-Lalo after the General Elections in April. 

However, the victor, Fiugalu Eteuati was found guilty of bribery and treating allegations by the Supreme Court in July, after the former holder of the seat Tafua Maluelue Tafua filed a petition against Fiugalu. 

The Court ruled that the 13 allegations of bribery and treating leveled against the H.R.P.P. Member-elect were proven beyond a reasonable doubt during the proceedings.

The proceedings were presided over by Justice Niava Mata Tuatagaloa and Justice Lesatele Rapi Vaai. 

Five charges that the Member-elect had levelled against the petitioner, Tafua Maluelue Tafua were also dismissed by the Court. 

The Chairman of the F.A.S.T., La'auli Leuatea Schmidt and Faleomavaega could not be reached for comment on Monday evening. 

However, La'auli during an exclusive interview with the Samoa Observer on Saturday said that the party's preparations for the upcoming elections are "going well so far."

La'auli said they have already selected seven candidates for the seven constituencies going through by-elections after election petitions. 

He said they will be using the same strategies they used in preparations for the general elections in April. 

However, there might be a few changes to their political strategies for the upcoming by-elections following the new amendments made to the Electoral Act that were passed over two weeks ago. 

"We are not worried, the same strategies we used in our preparations for the April elections, are the same strategies our candidates will use. 

"There might be a few changes because of the new amendments made to the Electoral Act recently, but that's about it. Preparations for by-elections are running smoothly and going well so far. 

"We are just going to prepare what we must do together with our prayers and fasting, and will leave the rest to God. Whether or not our candidates will win, that is for the people and voters to decide. But it's very typical of them to make assumptions and act all mighty, just like how they did before the election.

"That is why they were very upset and disappointed when they didn't get the results they had wanted.

"As Chairman, I am comforted that our constituencies are starting to see that we are now delivering some of the election promises we made prior to the elections."

Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa last week brushed aside claims from the Opposition party that they are looking to return to power by winning all the seven seats. 

Fiame and La'auli both said they are unfazed by the claims from the Opposition camp. 

Prime Minister Fiame, in answering questions from the media on Wednesday last week, said they shall leave it to the voters to make the decision.

Nevertheless, Fiame reminded the media that the H.R.P.P. also made announcements and declarations that they would win 42 seats in the General elections. 

"However, that did not happen," she added. 

"But that is up to the voters, if it were up to us, M.P.s it would've been easy, but we shall leave it to voters to decide."

The seven by-elections can also determine whether the former ruling party can regain its numbers to challenge F.A.S.T. to regain government. 

Should the party win all seven seats that it previously held and secure an additional seat for women in the parliament, it will test the majority F.A.S.T, currently enjoys.

The F.A.S.T. Government has maintained its 26 seats majority since the conclusion of the April general election with the subsequent electoral petitions further reducing H.R.P.P. seat numbers to 18. 

The Speaker has yet to make an announcement on a fixed date for the by-elections. Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition party, Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi has threatened to take the matter to court, accusing the Speaker of abandoning his duty of announcing and setting a date for the by-elections to occur. 

Tuilaepa said it's unfair for the seven constituencies that they are kept in the dark of when they are likely to head back to the polls to vote for their M.P.s.