A Watershed Moment, or Business as Usual? Female Candidates and Quota Implementation in the 2016 Samoan Election
Author/s (editor/s):
Kerryn Baker
Publication year:
2016
Publication type:
In Brief
The 2016 general election was the first ever held in Samoa using a constitutionally mandated minimum guaranteed level of women’s representation. The ‘safety net’ gender quota meant that if fewer than five women were elected, additional women members of parliament (MPs) would be appointed to ensure there was a minimum of five. These additional members would be the highest-polling (by percentage) unsuccessful women candidates.
