FAST party confirmed winners with crushing majority in Sāmoa’s snap general election

Sāmoa’s snap general election has ended in a significant victory for the Faatuatua i le Atua Sāmoa ua Tasi (FAST) party, which secured 30 seats to command a majority in the country’s 18th Parliament.

The Office of the Electoral Commission completed vote counting on Thursday evening after eight days of pre-polling, special vote sorting, and main polling that took place last Friday.

Parliament has 51 seats, although the final tally will slightly increase once a constitutional provision guaranteeing at least 10 per cent representation for women is applied.

The result marks a new era for Sāmoa’s political landscape. After four decades in power, the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) secured only 14 seats. The Sāmoa Uniting Party (SUP), led by caretaker Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, won just three, while four seats went to independents.

FAST’s win was well-distributed across the main islands of Upolu and Savai’i. The party took a bigger slice - 15 of the 20 seats - leaving HRPP with only three seats and two for the independents. On Upolu, FAST and HRPP accounted for most of the 31 seats, with FAST winning 15, HRPP 11, SUP three, and independents two.

Only five women candidates won outright, representing the constituencies of Lotofaga, Falealupo, A‘ana Alofi IV, Safata I, and Palauli I. This outcome triggered the constitutional amendment that guarantees an additional seat for a woman MP. The Electoral Commissioner will confirm the sixth member and her party affiliation in the coming days.

Electoral Commissioner Tuiafelolo Toleafoa Alex John Stanley will announce the official results and return the writ of election to the Head of State in the coming days. Photo/Renate Rivers

The outcome follows months of political turmoil, during which FAST faced internal divisions, and Fiamē’s minority government struggled to remain in power. Parliament was dissolved after her 2025/26 budget was defeated. With the writs of election to be returned shortly, FAST leader La‘aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt is now set to be sworn in as Sāmoa’s next Prime Minister.

Despite FAST’s clear majority, HRPP leader and former Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, has indicated plans for legal challenges, alleging corruption and bribery during the campaign season.

At a thanksgiving service after polling day, Laaulialemalietoa called for unity, extending an olive branch to Fiamē and Tuilaepa.

“This is a moment to come together for the good of Sāmoa,” he told supporters.

Following one of the most turbulent political periods in recent memory, attention now turns to whether FAST can deliver on its promises and steer Sāmoa towards stability and progress.

Watch Tuilaepa's interview below.