HRPP LAYS OUT PRE-ELECTION GAME PLAN
By: Joshua Lafoa’i
With an impressive 120 candidates for the upcoming General Elections, the ruling Human Rights Protection Party is not taking any chances.
Realistically, more than one or two HRPP candidate per Electoral Constituency will elevate chances for candidates from other parties to win.
The message was delivered by HRPP leader and Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Silele Malielegaoi at a meeting with the majority of the party’s candidates at their Maota i Petesa headquarters.
To that effect, the PM who is the longest serving HRPP member on the list of candidates offered a tactical advice ahead of the registrations window opening for the 2021 elections.
“We are all aware of instances where we have more than 3 candidates running for the same constituency,” said Tuilaepa. “And this may result in the split of voters that would allow our competition to creep in.”
“I urge you to consider the consequences and brainstorm amongst yourselves to decide what is best for our Party but most importantly for your electoral constituency.”
The HRPP was referring to a number of constituencies that have multiple contenders for HRPP like Lefaga, which to date has a total of seven running members, six for HRPP and one for the FAST party.
“I advise that those of you sitting in the same constituency talk amongst yourselves, and come up with a mutual agreement. It doesn’t have to be written, just a verbal agreement on who you think has the best chances of winning in the election,” he continued.
“That way you can decide who runs to avoid all of you splitting the votes and giving the opposition a small window to come through in the elections,” he added.
Tuilaepa continued by impressing onto the audience that if there are too many HRPP members in a constituency along with one opposition in there, they must automatically assume they will lose that battle.
And he did not stop there. The party leader issued another stern warning for running candidates running without the vision of serving the constituency.
“I say this because these are the things that have happened and will happen,” he said.
“Some are only here not with the goal to better their constituency or the country, but to see what they can gain for themselves. Selfish behavior, which is why I wanted to say this right here and now, so that you can value the work we do,” he said.
The HRPP has won 10 consecutive General Elections since 1982.
The registration of electoral candidates started yesterday in Savaii and will close on 23rd October in Upolu.
