Savali: The Anti-Party hopping Law requiring MPs who are members of one party leaving and going to another party is seen as an attempt to ensure continuity of HRPP rule. What do you think?
PM: On the contrary, the Anti-Party Hopping Law tries to ensure stable Government. Party hoppers must vacate their seats and go back and ask for their political districts’ permission and support for their change of party affiliation through a bi-election.
Very simple – the law tries to make MPs more honest. If 30 dishonest MPs change their party affiliation 20 times during a 5 year term, we can have 20 changes of Government in 5 years creating instability in Government.
No investor would ever be inclined to invest in an unsafe environment and donors will be extra cautious to help a country run by 30 unprincipled MPs who care only about their self-interest.
And the HRPP can never remain the Government forever. It can be replaced any time should the people of Samoa so decide. And a successor Government will benefit from the farsighted reforms executed by the HRPP.
The loophole in the present law where a party hopper may choose to become an Independent deliberately to avoid a bi-election is now closed following the recent amendment approved by Parliament this week.
Samoa is a small country and nothing remains secret for long.
