1996 Western Samoan general election

1996 Western Samoan general election

← 1991 26 April 1996 2001 →
All 49 seats in the Legislative Assembly 25 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   WSLP Leader Tofilau Eti Alesana Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi To‘alepai Toesulusulu Si‘ueva Party HRPP SNDP Labour Last election 49.58%, 27 seats 21.25%, 15 seats – Seats won 24 11 1 Seat change 3 4 New Popular vote 29,353 17,586 773 Percentage 43.54% 26.09% 1.15% Swing 6.04 pp 4.84 pp New
Prime Minister before election Tofilau Eti Alesana HRPP Subsequent Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana HRPP

Politics of Samoa
Constitution
Executive O le Ao o le Malo (head of state) Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II Council of Deputies Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa Deputy Prime Minister Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio Cabinet Ministries
Legislative Legislative Assembly Speaker: Papali’i Li’o Taeu Masipau Members
Judiciary Court of Appeal of Samoa Supreme Court Chief Justice: Satiu Simativa Perese
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General elections were held in Western Samoa on 26 April 1996 to determine the composition of the 12th Parliament.^[1] The election occurred following constitutional amendments that extended the parliamentary term from three to five years and increased parliament's seat count from 47 to 49. Five parties contested the election, including the governing Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), led by Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana and the main opposition, the Samoan National Development Party (SNDP), led by Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi. The HRPP's popularity suffered a setback due to Chief Auditor Sua Rimoni Ah Chong's 1994 report, which brought to light government corruption. While the SNDP campaigned on anti-corruption, the party's perceived failure to provide checks on the HRPP meant the governing party faced few obstacles to re-election.

In the final results, no party won a majority. The HRPP won 24 seats, down from 34 before the election, the SNDP secured 11, and the newly formed Western Samoa Labour Party won a single seat. Independents saw a rise in support, with 13 entering parliament, reportedly due to many voters' disillusionment with both major parties. The HRPP and the SNDP negotiated with independents following the election to achieve a majority. The HRPP won the support of ten independents and remained in government. The Supreme Court later voided the election of five successful candidates, including four cabinet ministers and Labour Party Leader To‘alepai Toesulusulu Si‘ueva, after finding them guilty of bribery charges brought about by electoral petitions.