The Fa’atuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) political party will endorse the candidacies of three former Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) members in the upcoming by-elections. 

This afternoon, the former Member of Parliament for Vaa o Fonoti, Mau’u Siaosi Puepuemai will be the first to be officially presented to the ruling party at the Maota Samoa convention. 

Former representative for Faleata no4, Ale Vena Ale and Siumu member, Tu’u’u Anasii Leota will have their candidacy endorsed and made public on Saturday this week. 

The change in political party affiliation from the trio that left the H.R.P.P. was confirmed in a media advisory from the F.A.S.T. party on Thursday night. 

Earlier this week the Supreme Court issued a consent order whereby the three outgoing members have admitted to a parliamentary charge and subsequently vacated their seats immediately triggering by-elections. 

According to the Electoral Act and the Constitution a member who resigns from their political party will have their seat vacated. 

The Speaker of the House, Papalii Lio Masipau took the members to Court after they initially denied the charge. 

Papalii through a motion sought declaratory orders on the membership status of the members that exited the H.R.P.P. party.  

Ale, Tu’u’u and Mau’u decided to substitute their objection to an admission to the charge this week and have agreed to return to their constituencies once again to decide their fate.