Samoa First Party

{{Short description|Samoan political party}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}

{{Infobox political party

|country = Samoa

| name = Samoa First

| native_name = Fa{{okina}}amuamua Samoa

|logo = Samoa First.png

|leader = Unasa Iuni Sapolu

|foundation = July 2018

|ideology = Samoan nationalism
Populism

|position =

|international =

|colours =

|headquarters =

|colorcode = {{party colour|Samoa First Party}}

|seats1_title = Legislative Assembly

|seats1 = {{Composition bar|0|53|{{party colour|Samoa First Party}}}}

|flag =

|website =

}}

Samoa First ({{langx|sm|Fa{{okina}}amuamua Samoa}}), officially the Samoa First Political Party, is a political party in Samoa. The party is nationalist, supporting the protection of customary lands{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/364291/samoa-first-leader-aims-to-stop-customary-land-leasing |title=Samoa First leader aims to stop customary land leasing |publisher=RNZ |date=17 August 2018 |accessdate=16 August 2020}} and opposing Chinese immigration.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/384229/new-political-party-in-samoa-proposes-china-immigration-ban |title=New political party in Samoa proposes China immigration ban |publisher=RNZ |date=8 March 2019 |accessdate=16 August 2020}} It is led by Unasa Iuni Sapolu.{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/radio-australia/programs/pacificbeat/samoa-new-party/10088044 |title=New 'Samoa First Party' political party wants to challenge status quo |author=Catherine Graue |publisher=ABC |date=8 August 2018 |accessdate=16 August 2020}}

The party was registered in July 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/362533/new-political-party-registered-in-samoa |title=New political party registered in Samoa |publisher=RNZ |date=25 July 2018 |accessdate=16 August 2020}} In March 2019 the party unsuccessfully contested the Fa'asalelega No. 2 byelection.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/383955/new-samoa-party-to-contest-by-election-this-month |title=New Samoa party to contest by-election this month |publisher=RNZ |date=5 March 2019 |accessdate=16 August 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/385497/samoa-ruling-party-candidate-wins-by-election |title=Samoa ruling party candidate wins by-election |publisher=RNZ |date=25 March 2019 |accessdate=16 August 2020}} Following the by-election the party's candidate, Lema'i Faioso Sione, was banished from his village for not supporting the candidate backed by the village council.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/388749/samoa-first-sues-village-council-over-candidate-expulsion |title=Samoa First sues village council over candidate expulsion |publisher=RNZ |date=8 May 2019 |accessdate=16 August 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/394458/banned-samoa-politician-seeks-mediation |title=Banned Samoa politician seeks mediation |publisher=RNZ |date=16 July 2019 |accessdate=16 August 2020}}

The party held its official launch in February 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/article/58496 |title=Samoa First Party launched, calls out P.M. |author=Soli Wilson |publisher=Samoa Observer |date=20 February 2020 |accessdate=16 August 2020}} It then began to prepare to contest the 2021 Samoan general election.{{cite web |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/62051 |title=2021 General Election date confirmed |author=Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong |publisher=Samoa Observer |date=28 April 2020 |accessdate=15 August 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/415413/samoan-2021-election-date-announced |title=Samoan 2021 election date announced |publisher=RNZ |date=29 April 2020 |accessdate=15 August 2020}}

In May 2020 the party joined other opposition parties in calling for the Land and Titles Bill to be delayed.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/415579/samoa-political-parties-call-on-pm-to-delay-controversial-bills |title=Samoa political parties call on PM to delay controversial bills |publisher=RNZ |date=1 May 2020 |accessdate=16 August 2020}}

The party launched its manifesto in October 2020, promising to repeal the Land Titles Registration Act 2008. It initially endorsed 10 candidates for the 2021 election.{{cite web |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/72185 |title=Samoa First reveals election plan in Savai'i |author=Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi |publisher=Samoa Observer |date=10 October 2020 |accessdate=12 October 2020}} but ultimately only nominated 6.{{cite web |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/73155 |title=The 200 to contest 2021 general election |author=Soli Wilson |publisher=Samoa Observer |date=23 October 2020 |accessdate=29 November 2020}} On 11 December 2020 the party announced an electoral alliance with the Tautua Samoa Party and Sovereign Independent Samoa Party, under which the parties would support each other's candidates in seats where they are not running against one another.{{cite web |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/75964 |title=Tautua, Samoa First and S.I.S. announce election alliance |publisher=Samoa Observer |author=Soli Wilson |date=11 December 2020 |accessdate=11 December 2020}}

During the 2021 election the party did not win any seats and earned a total of 207 votes nationwide.{{cite web |title=Independent State of Samoa |url=http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/s/samoa/samoa2021.txt |author=Adam Carr|publisher=Psephos |access-date=4 February 2022}}