Palusalue said that while in Australia, members of his party had met for a consultation with the Samoan community there when the member made a passing joke about a new party
Opposition leader, Palusalue Fa’apo II, has declined to speculate about rumours swirling around political circles about a new political party being formed.
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Palusalue was asked for a comment since the rumour points to the party involving some members of the Tautua Samoa Party.
Asked to confirm the reports, Palusalue said he was not aware if any member of his party intends to break out to form a new party.
“So I cannot really comment because I’m not aware of any member of our party with such intentions,” he said.
Palusalue, however, said he was aware of the rumours.
He confirmed that the rumours centres around a comment allegedly made by a member of the Tautua Party, during a recent Parliamentary trip to Australia.
Palusalue said that while in Australia, members of his party had met for a consultation with the Samoan community there when the member made a passing joke about a new party.
“It was a joke and that is his way,” said Palusalue.
The name of the member of the party is withheld. Repeated attempts to get a comment from him on Tuesday and yesterday were unsuccessful.
But another Tautua Samoa member and Aana Alofi 3 M.P, Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster defended his colleague.
“We don’t know,” he said, “we might say it’s him but it might not be him.”
Toeolesulusulu said he had travelled with the Tautua M.P. on the trip to Australia and he had not heard him make such a remark.
“We don’t know and we might think its (him) but it might be someone else. It might be a joke or it might not be a joke.”
Toeolesulusulu said his colleague at no point during the trip say anything of the kind.
According to Talamua media, the new political party is under the leadership of “another former Minister.”
“The party according to circulating reports has some prominent business members backing them for the forthcoming general elections in 2016.”
The website had apparently asked former Minister of Finance, Papali’i Niko Lee Hang if he would join the party but he said no.
“I came into politics as an H.R.P.P member and will go into the upcoming elections as an H.R.P.P member,” Papali’i is quoted as saying.
“I will never join them.”
As for Palusalue, he maintains that the Tautua Samoa Party is united and they are building slowly towards the next general election.
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