Samoa Snap Election Unpredictable as Fast Leads Pending Official Count

Samoa held a snap general election marked by political uncertainty following the split of the governing party and the collapse of Fiame Naomi Mata'afa's minority government. Preliminary results indicate the Fast Party, led by Laʻauli Leuatea Schmidt, is leading with 30 seats, while the long-dominant Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) trails with 14 seats, and Fiame's new SUP party holds three seats. The election is considered the most unpredictable in Samoa's history, with over 100,000 eligible voters participating in compulsory voting. Counting is manual and ongoing, with official results expected after special votes and court challenges are settled, including the allocation of seats to meet the parliamentary women's quota. Fiame, Samoa's first female prime minister who raised the country's international profile while in office, was expelled from FAST in a factional dispute but remains a key political figure. The nation awaits official results amid hopes for political stability and a focus on economic and job growth.