Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi has been re-elected as the Member of Parliament for Faleata West again, this time, as a member of the Human Rights Protection Party. That’s according to the preliminary result which is yet to be finalised.

The former member of the Tautua Opposition Party for the XIV Parliament was overjoyed that he was given the chance to represent his district again.

“I am happy and grateful, and all thanks to God for he has made this possible,” Leala said.

His pre-election journey was tough as was his competition, Leala admitted.

“But I am glad that I came back and I am very honoured and grateful,” he said. 

He thought what happened to the Tautua Party was adverse, “but it is what it is,” he said. 

Moreover, he said that this is exactly how it should be.

“I think at the end of the day, this is how a parliament should work,” he said. 

“[There] should be only one party. The only party that should exist in Samoa is the Cabinet like the setup before; everybody else should be independent and voice their own opinions. That’s how it should be.”

It was disappointing he said, to see that a lot of people did not vote and he said he wants to find out why.

“I think this is the first time we’ve had high registration numbers but [a very] low number in terms of those who voted,” he said. “And this is not good. 

He thinks that the main contributing factor was that there were too many rules which confused a lot of people.  

He also believes that he made the right choice to cross the floor and join the H.R.P.P. party. 

“And after the official count, I know there will be a big change in the numbers from the results we received yesterday and I am still very confident.”

He thanked his fellow opponents who took up the challenge to contest the election.

“I feel sorry for Palu and other members of the Tautua Party, but I am sure that they will do very well in other callings made for them, and I wish them the very best for the future.”