1967 Western Samoan general election

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All 47 seats in the Fono
First party   Party Independents Last election 47 seats Seats won 47 Seat change
Prime Minister before election Fiame Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II Independent Subsequent Prime Minister Fiame Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II Independent

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Executive O le Ao o le Malo (head of state) Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II Council of Deputies Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa Deputy Prime Minister Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio Cabinet Ministries
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General elections were held in Western Samoa on 25 February 1967. All candidates ran as independents and voting was restricted to Matai and citizens of European origin ("individual voters"), with the Matai electing 45 MPs and Europeans two.^[1] Following the election, Fiame Mata'afa Faumuina Mulinu'u II remained Prime Minister.

Campaign

A total of 126 candidates contested the 45 Samoan seats, with five running in the individual voter seats.^[2]

Although voting was restricted to matais, the ability of traditional chiefs to create new matai led to significant changes in voter demographics in some areas, with the number of matais more than doubling since 1961. In Vaisigano No. 1 constituency, the number of matais increased from 139 in 1965 to over 1,400 by the 1967 elections. Trucks had been sent out to collect people and register them as matai, including many women, who were traditionally rarely made matai.^[3][4]

Results

Sixteen MLAs lost their seats, including Minister of Education Papali'i Poumau.^[4] Surprising defeats included Afoafouvale Misimoa in Palauli East and Tufuga Efi in Vaisigano No. 1.^[5]

Aftermath

Following the elections, members of the Legislative Assembly elected Magele Ate as Speaker and Tuala Paulo as Deputy Speaker.^[4] Fiame Mata'afa was re-elected as Prime Minister, and formed an eight-member cabinet on 17 March, including three new ministers, Luamanuvae Eti, Lesatele Rapi and Tuaopepe Tame.^[4]