Second Samoan election called

APIA: Samoa’s head of state has called for a second general election to bring an end to a deadlock in parliament.

The caretaker Human Rights Protection Party and the newcomer Fast party have been tied on 26 seats each since last month’s election.

In an address to the nation last night, Head of State Tuimalealiifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II called for the country to go to the polls again on May 21.

He told Samoans it was the best way forward to resolve the political stalemate.

Tuimalealiifano had met with the leaders of the two parties yesterday morning to announce his intentions.

But preempting the head of state’s public announcement at a news conference last night, Fast party leader Fiame Naomi Mata’afa declared her displeasure. ‘‘I was taken aback by such proposed action by the head of state who then asked me to respond to his proposed actions by this afternoon,’’ she said.

‘‘In short, I do not consider that the head of state has the constitutional power to call new elections at this time.’’

Mata’afa said the caretaker prime minister, Tuila’epa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, agreed with the head of state’s proposal.

A Fast party challenge against the appointment of an additional women’s seat, which created the deadlock, will be heard in the Supreme Court today.

That decision was made by the electoral commissioner, and endorsed by the head of state, to meet a constitutional provision requiring 10% of seats go to women.

If this is upheld, an extra HRPP seat would be added to parliament.