Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi
Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (lit. 'Faith in the One True God'; F.A.S.T.) is a political party in Samoa. It is led by MP Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao.[1]
Faith in the One True God Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi | |
---|---|
Leader | Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao |
Founded | 30 July 2020 |
The party was registered on 30 July 2020. It opposes controversial constitutional amendments proposed by the Human Rights Protection Party government of Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, and supports a two term limit for the prime minister.[2] It also supports decentralising services to villages.[3] It has begun announcing candidates for the 2021 Samoan general election.[4]
On 28 August 2020 party leader Laauli Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt was re-elected to Parliament in the 2020 Gagaifomauga No. 3 byelection.[5][6][7]
On 2 September 2020 the party announced it would join forces with the Samoa National Democratic Party and Tumua ma Puleono parties to contest the 2021 election.[8] SNDP and Tumua ma Puleono candidates will run under the FAST banner, with only one candidate in each constituency.[9]
Following the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa from Cabinet, the FAST party invited her to lead it. She declined, as she wished to complete the Parliamentary term.[10] On 13 January 2021 Mata'afa announced that she would be joining F.A.S.T. after Parliament has risen for the election.[11][12]
The party nominated 50 candidates for the 2021 election.[13] It engaged in online fundraising, and by 12 January had raised AUD$19,277 (WST$37,102.18) via Australian crowdfunding site MyCause.[14] In January 2021 it began an "election roadshow",[15] Prime Minister Tuilaepa denounced the roadshow as a "foreign practice",[16] and encouraged his supporters to gatecrash F.A.S.T. events to counter the party's "brainwashing".[17]
On 13 January 2021 former Prime Minister and O le Ao o le Malo Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi publicly backed the party.[18]
On 29 January the party revealed that it had begun talks with the Tautua Samoa Party to form a "grand coalition" to oust the government.[19]
References
- Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (30 July 2020). "F.A.S.T. political party officially registers". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- "FAST Aims to Limit the PM's Term in Office". Talanei. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- "New Samoan party calls for limit on terms for PM". RNZ. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- "Bus driver heeds heavenly whisper, stands for Parliament". Samoa Observer. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (18 August 2020). "La'auli declared by-election winner". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
- "Former Speaker tops prelim results in Samoan by-election". RNZ. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
- Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (28 August 2020). "La'auli opens new political chapter". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson (2 September 2020). "Samoa's ruling party faces new threat – after nearly 40 years in power". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (2 September 2020). "Parties join forces ahead of General Election". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (13 September 2020). "Fiame says she won't join another party". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- "Samoa's former Deputy PM to join new political party". RNZ. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- Soli Wilson (12 January 2021). "Fiame, F.A.S.T. to make it official". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- Soli Wilson (23 October 2020). "The 200 to contest 2021 general election". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- Tina Mata'afa-Tufele (12 January 2021). "F.A.S.T. raises $37,000 on Australian crowdfunding site". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- Soli Wilson (4 January 2021). "F.A.S.T. kicks off election roadshow". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (8 January 2021). "F.A.S.T. roadshow a foreign practice: P.M. Tuilaepa". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (13 January 2021). "Crash F.A.S.T. roadshows to counter "brainwashing": P.M." Samoa Observer. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- Soli Wilson (14 October 2021). "F.A.S.T. roadshow rolls on to Falealili 2". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (29 January 2021). "Opposition parties discuss grand coalition". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 30 January 2021.