Samoa's political leaders go round and round: 'You never know'
Left to right: FAST Party chairman La'auli Leuatea Schmidt, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, opposition leader Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi.
Photo:
RNZ Pacific/123RF/Samoa Government/FAST Party
The leader of Samoa's main opposition party claims that Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa is holding on to the top job because of the "big salaries", while the country is "suffering".
Human Rights Protection Party leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi told RNZ Pacific that Fiame no longer has control of her own party and cannot continue leading a minority government.
"I have spoken to the Prime Minister that she cannot continue with only 15 of them in Cabinet. The rest of [her] party have opposed her. Therefore, she is in the minority," he said.
"I think all she wants, is to stay on and receive their big salaries and hope for the best to continue to next year with problems continuing, with the country suffering."
However, Fiame hit back, saying that, "I am not quote sure what the country is suffering with."
She told RNZ Pacific that "things are working", adding, "It is just difficult for [Tuilaepa] because he is frustrated that he is unable to do anything."
"I want to keep on doing the work that we are doing," she said in response to Tuilaepa's claims that she was only holding on to the role because of the perks that come with it.
She said she has faced two motions of no confidence, and her opponents had the opportunity to "take me out".
"And you know, that is the crux of his frustration...not being able to [oust me]."
However, Tuilaepa believes that Fiame could still choose to resign of her own accord.
He said he is pleased that FAST Party chairman and former Cabinet Minister La'auli Leataua Schmidt has had a change of heart and is
now calling
for an early election.
La'auli, whose party
split in January
leaving Fiame in charge of a minority government, is pursuing an early election through the courts
Tuilaepa said he welcomed La'auli's legal action and is all for it.
"I am happy that La'auli has come out strongly that elections should be brought forward because that was not his view previously," he said.
But last week, La'auli brushed off the opposition leader's support, calling Tuilaepa "too unreliable".
"Regardless of whether or not Tuilaepa agrees, we have the numbers," La'auli said.
Fiame told RNZ Pacific last week that the discussion was not surprising and that parliament must meet before any such move can be considered.
"The only way [an early general election] will happen is if the opposition party agrees to it. At the moment, it would seem unlikely. But you never know," she said.
She also dismissed claims of instability: "What crisis? The country is running as normal."
Earlier this year, over a two-week period, Fiame and her minority government defeated two back-to-back leadership challenges.
On 25 February, with La'auli's help, she
defeated a no-confidence vote
moved by Tuilaepa, 34 votes to 15.
Then on 6 March, this time with Tuilaepa's help,
she defeated a challenge
mounted by La'auli, 32 votes to 19.
Tuilaepa said that although his motion failed it also served another purpose.
"When we proposed the vote of no confidence, we expected La'auli to support us because we did not have the numbers, and they have been fighting each other," Tuilaepa said.
"We knew we could not win but we were testing the sincerity of the breakup. But La'auli opposed us.
"That was the opportunity for the country to go into a snap election," he added.
The Samoa parliament is scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday, 27 May.
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