| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
All 49 seats in the Legislative Assembly 25 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Constitution |
---|
General elections were held in Samoa on 2 March 2001 to determine the composition of the 13th Parliament.[1] Four parties contested the election, including the ruling Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) and the main opposition Samoan National Development Party (SNDP). The HRPP was led into the election by Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi, who succeeded Tofilau Eti Alesana in 1998 following his resignation.
No party won a majority; the HRPP secured the most seats, winning 23, while the SNDP won 13. The newly formed Samoan United People's Party (SUPP) won a single seat, and 12 independents were successful. Following the election, the HRPP won the support of four independents, including three non-member party affiliates, allowing it to remain in government. SNDP Leader Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi resigned shortly after the party's loss and was succeeded by Le Mamea Ropati. The Supreme Court later voided the election of five members of parliament, after finding them guilty of charges brought about by electoral petitions.