General elections were held in Western Samoa on 22 February 1985. Voting was restricted to matai and citizens of European origin ("individual voters"), with the Matai electing 45 MPs and Europeans two. The result was a victory for the Human Rights Protection Party, which won 31 seats. Its leader, Tofilau Eti Alesana, remained Prime Minister.

Results

Fifteen of the 47 elected MPs were new to the Legislative Assembly. Minister of Health Lavea Lio lost his seat.

Aftermath

Following the elections, the HRPP held a two-day conference on 25–26 February, the HRPP re-elected Tofilau Eti Alesana as its candidate for Prime Minister. On 7 March, Va'ai Kolone resigned from the party. On 9 March the Legislative Assembly elected Alesana Prime Minister; he was the only candidate after Kolone declined to be nominated. Nonumalo Sofara was re-elected as Speaker. However, in December, Alesana's 1986 budget was rejected by the Assembly, with 27 votes against and 19 supporting. As the head of state refused to dissolve the Assembly, Alesana resigned as Prime Minister on 27 December. Va'ai Kolone, the leader of the opposition coalition, was then elected.