Samoa's national election returns FAST party with new leader

FILE PHOTO: Samoan Prime Minister Afioga Fiame Naomi Mata'afa speaks at a Welcome Reception and State Banquet at Apia Park during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa. Picture date: Thursday October 24, 2024. Stefan Rousseau/Pool via REUTERS/File photo

SYDNEY (Reuters) -A national election in the Pacific island nation of Samoa has resulted in a resounding win for the incumbent FAST party, but will deliver a new leader, after Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa split from FAST before the poll.

Official results released by Samoa's electoral commission on Friday showed that FAST, led by Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt, won 30 out of the 50 seats contested. The new Samoa Uniting Party, formed by Fiame, won only three seats, including her own.