Politician, Levaopolo Talatonu Va’ai, has made a rallying call for election candidates to join a group of aspiring politicians running as independent candidates next year.
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During an interview with the Samoa Observer, the Member of Parliament for Gagaemauga No. 2, who has been stood down by the Speaker over his decision to change constituencies, said he is among 16 independent candidates working as a group.
Levaopolo, however, declined to confirm whether they would become a political party.
Instead, he told the Samoa Observer that all he wants to do at this stage is to declare that there is a group of independent candidates that has been preparing for the election.
“Our group includes, former A.C.E.O’s of government, two lawyers and two former Members of Parliament including myself,” he said.
“I just want to declare this group of independent candidates so that whoever is running as an independent can come to join our group.”
According to Levaopolo, members of the group represent different constituencies in Upolu and Savai’i.
“These are very good candidates and they are all running in next year’s election.”
Asked if the group would eventually form into a party, Levao was coy.
“We are not yet a party because we need eight members to win their seats in the election in order for us to register as a new party,” he said.
“So far there are sixteen of us independent candidates and we are expecting more to join us.”
Levaopolo also spoke about the importance of having multiple parties to strengthen Parliamentary democracy in Samoa.
“We need more than two parties in Parliament to make it healthier when it comes to decision making over the issues."
“Our Parliament should have more than two parties in it because the more parties in Parliament the better it is when a particular issue is discussed.”
Asked if he was the leader of the group, Levao said not yet. He said he is merely the spokesperson.
“I am looking at ways to strengthen this group for the sake of Parliament because at the moment there are only two parties so hopefully we can be able to make a difference.”
Levao also clarified that his decision to run as an independent was for personal reasons.
“It is my own choice to run as an independent,” he said. “I want to form another party for Parliament to help out with the decision making.”
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