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Australia urges Samoa's parties to work on forming government

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi
Source: Reuters i

Melbourne, AUSTRALIA —  Reuters is reporting that Australia is urging Samoa's political parties to work together to form a government after a top court in the Pacific nation dealt a blow to a prime minister who has refused to accept an election defeat by saying there was no legal reason to delay convening parliament.

The islands' politics descended into chaos after Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Samoa's China-friendly prime minister, refused to give way after losing a parliamentary election in April that would have ended his 22 years in power. The election was won by Fiame Naomi Mataafa, whose FAST party scored a one-seat majority.

The Court of Appeal clarified this week that convening of parliament is mandatory under the country's constitution, overriding the objections of Tuilaepa and his HRPP party, who had argued that a requirement for the number of women that have to be elected to the chamber had not been met.

"The Australian Government acknowledges the declaratory statement by the Samoan Court of Appeal that its ruling of 2 June 2021 does not prevent the convening of Parliament," Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Zed Seselja, minister for international development and the Pacific, said in a joint statement.

"We urge all parties to cooperate, with a view to convening the parliament and enabling the formation of a government."

Read more at Reuters.com