Samoa's PM under pressure to call election
After surviving two recent attempts to remove her from office, Samoa's Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa is facing mounting pressure to call an early election.
In an unusual twist, those calls are coming from two men who rarely agree on anything. Opposition Leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, and La'auli Leuatea Schmidt; the chairman of Ms Fiame's FAST party and former Cabinet minister.
The next election is due around April next year but calls for an early poll follow months of political turmoil beginning in January when the Ms Fiame sacked Mr La'auli.
He retaliated by removing her from the FAST party but failed to remove her via a vote of no confidence.
"The longer the current Fiame government continues to be in power, they have the luxury of time to build alliances," said political expert, Sala Dr George Carter.
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News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Bangladesh's Yunus announces elections in April 2026
Bangladesh will hold elections in early April 2026 for the first time since a mass uprising overthrew the government last year, interim leader Muhammad Yunus said Friday. The South Asian nation of around 170 million people has been in political turmoil since former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted by a student-led revolt in August 2024, ending her iron-fisted rule of 15 years. "I am announcing to the citizens of the country that the election will be held on any day in the first half of April 2026," said Yunus, the 84-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner who leads the caretaker government. Political parties jostling for power have been repeatedly demanding Yunus fix an election timetable, while he has said time is needed as the country requires an overhaul of its democratic institutions after Hasina's tenure. "The government has been doing everything necessary to create an environment conducive to holding the election," he added in the television broadcast, while repeating his warning that reforms were needed. "It should be remembered that Bangladesh has plunged into deep crisis every time it has held a flawed election," he said, in a speech given on the eve of the Eid al-Adha holiday in the Muslim-majority nation. "A political party usurped power through such elections in the past, and became a barbaric fascist force." Hasina's rule saw widespread human rights abuses, and her government was accused of politicising courts and the civil service, as well as staging lopsided elections. The interim government had already repeatedly vowed to hold elections before June 2026, but said the more time it had to enact reforms, the better. - Reform of 'utmost importance' - The key Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), seen as the election frontrunner, has in recent weeks been pushing hard for polls to be held by December. Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, in a speech to officers in May, also said that elections should be held by December, according to both Bangladeshi media and military sources. Days after that speech, the government warned that political power struggles risked jeopardising gains that have been made. "Those who organise such elections are later viewed as culprits, and those who assume office through them become targets of public hatred," Yunus said on Friday. "One of the biggest responsibilities of this government is to ensure a transparent... and widely participatory election so that the country does not fall into a new phase of crisis," he added. "That is why institutional reform is of utmost importance." Up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024 after Hasina's government launched a crackdown in a bid to cling to power, according to the United Nations. Hasina, 77, fled by helicopter to her old ally India and she has defied an extradition order to return to Dhaka. Her trial opened in absentia this month. Yunus said "reforms, trials, and elections" were the three "core mandates" of his government. "The sacrifices made by our students and people will be in vain if good governance cannot be established," he said. The Election Commission will "present a detailed roadmap" for the vote "at an appropriate time", the interim leader said without specifying a date. "We have been in dialogue with all stakeholders to organise the most free, fair, competitive, and credible election in the history of Bangladesh," Yunus added. sa/pjm/rsc
ABC News
4 hours ago
- ABC News
Tasmania politics in turmoil
Samantha Donovan: And staying in Tasmania, the political situation there remains unclear this evening after the parliament passed a motion of no confidence in the Liberal Premier, Jeremy Rockliff, yesterday. The motion was brought forward by the Labor opposition leader, Dean Winter, who'd raised concerns about Mr Rockliff's management of the economy and infrastructure and his plans to sell off state assets. Plenty of Tasmanians rang in to ABC Radio today with their thoughts on the situation. Opinion: This is not in the interests of the people of Tasmania. Opinion: Yes, I certainly do. What an election. I like that way. It's my choice. It's not their choice who does what. I'd want to change the government. Opinion: I think they've been disgraceful. Opinion: I'd like to see a change of government, but I'd like to see the stadium continue. Opinion: The amount of money that would be swallowed up in a stadium would fund our health, our decrepit health system for months. That's it, money gone. Opinion: If we go to an election, the one thing I'd really say is I hope the Premier is not part of that election. He was the one that had the no confidence vote against them. He should have the dignity to resign. Opinion: My vote would support the candidate who doesn't support the stadium. I feel we've got far greater pressing needs at the moment. I've been on the public housing list for two years and there's over 5,000 people waiting and it's growing daily. Samantha Donovan: For the latest on the political situation in Tasmania, I spoke to the ABC's state political reporter, Adam Langenberg. Adam, is another election in Tasmania now inevitable? Adam Langenberg: Not inevitable, Sam, but everyone in the political sphere here says it's the most likely scenario. People I've been speaking to today say, you know, 75 or 80% likelihood that we head to an election. Of course, there are other scenarios that can play out. The governor can ask another Liberal MP to try and form government. That's something that the party room has not backed in. They say they'll back Jeremy Rockliff to the hilt and it's either an election or the governor tries to ask Labor to form minority government. That's something the Greens here have said they're open to working with Labor, but Labor leader Dean Winter, who moved this no confidence motion, he says under no circumstances will Labor govern with the Greens. So, it's a standoff and means that everyone thinks the most likely scenario is that election, which won't be called until at least Tuesday, if it does happen. Samantha Donovan: Adam, why is Tuesday the significant day? Adam Langenberg: Well, that's because Tasmanian Parliament needs to be recalled so a supply bill can be passed. The Tasmanian Parliament was in the middle of debating the budget, which hasn't passed. It means the Tasmanian public servants won't be paid after August. What that means is if there's going to be an election, there won't be a supply bill passed until well after that. So, there needed to be a mechanism to get them paid in the short term and that's what the supply bill is. And then after that, the Premier will go to the governor and ask for an early election. Samantha Donovan: Do you think the Labor leader, Dean Winter, fully appreciated what he was setting off with this no confidence motion? Adam Langenberg: That he didn't is an argument that's been prosecuted by the Liberals all week. They say they were just trying to change the Liberal leader and that's not something that they would tolerate. But Labor insists they meant what they did. They knew there were lots of scenarios. Maybe their preferred one might have been for Jeremy Rockliff just to have resigned. Well, they say they knew when they moved this motion, the consequences of it, and that it could mean that we head to an election and they were OK with that. Dean Winter has said repeatedly that he can't sit idly by and let Premier Jeremy Rockliff ruin the state. That's his argument. That debt and deficit are heading the wrong way in Tasmania, that the government can't manage major infrastructure projects, that it's going to sell off government businesses and the state can't afford it. So, Dean Winter says he knew full well what he was doing and now it's up to Tasmanians. Samantha Donovan: Adam, if there is another election, do you think Tasmanian voters are going to punish Labor for sending them back to the polls? Adam Langenberg: Well, Dean Winter's got five weeks or six weeks, depending on how long things take to get underway, to convince Tasmanians that it was the fault of the Premier that we're heading here. This is an argument that he's been making already, that the Premier didn't have the supply and confidence agreements he needed to be able to govern and Labor was just doing what any good opposition should do and holding the government to account. That's an argument he's going to have to make to try and win over Tasmanians. Now, we know that some of the party's biggest vote winners, historically, might not contest this time around. Rebecca White in Lyons has already gone to the federal parliament. It looks like Speaker Michelle O'Byrne in Bass might not contest the election. There's two big vote winners for Labor out of the picture, if that eventuates. So they've got their work cut out for them in growing from 10 seats that they hold currently, let alone getting to the 18 required for majority government. But, yeah, a big task in selling to Tasmanians exactly why they've done what they've done. That's something that's sort of got lost in the noise of the last two days because it's just truly remarkable to see a Premier ousted in the way that he has been. Samantha Donovan: The backers and fans of the long-awaited Tassie AFL club are worried it might fold because of this economic turmoil, even before it really gets off the ground. What's the worst-case political scenario for the Tassie Devils club? Adam Langenberg: I think the club will be hoping that there isn't a minority situation where the only way that one of the major parties can form government is in a coalition with an anti-stadium group of independents or the Greens. Because the first thing on their list when they're looking to form government will be, please don't build a stadium in Hobart. That's a reality that the club is really, really concerned about. Now, Labor have already said that they will not drop the stadium and not drop their support for the club going forward. And the Liberals have said the same thing. But in the harsh reality of post-election, when you need to trade to form power, what happens? And that's a real concern for football fans and the football club. And only time will tell exactly how that works out. Samantha Donovan: Adam Langenberg is the ABC's state political reporter in Tasmania.
ABC News
12 hours ago
- ABC News
Visa refusal sparks fresh concerns Solomon Islands may block Taipei from Pacific forum
The Solomon Islands government blocked a group of Taiwanese officials from entering the Pacific country earlier this year, stirring fresh concerns in Taipei that it might be locked out of a key regional meeting in Honiara later this year. Solomon Islands will host the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in September, and signalled last year that it might break with a long running precedent and refuse visas to Taiwanese officials who want to meet with their three remaining Pacific diplomatic allies on the sidelines. Both Australian and Pacific officials insist that the Solomon Islands government has given them private assurances this year that it will not take that step. But the ABC has been told that when a small group of officials from Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs applied to enter Solomon Islands in March — largely to begin planning the logistics for its PIF delegation — their visa applications were rejected. Australian government sources have said Solomon Islands has since reassured them again that Taiwan's representatives will not be blocked in September, but that this directive was still "working its way through the system", suggesting the decision was an error. A spokesperson from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) told the ABC it was "working closely" with Solomon Islands on preparations for the leaders meeting, "as we do with every host". "There has been no change to arrangements regarding Taiwan's engagement with the Pacific Islands Forum, which have been in place since agreed by leaders in 1992," they said. "The (meeting) is an opportunity for all Forum members to come together to ensure our region is well placed to pursue our shared interests, deepen regional cooperation and strengthen PIF unity." One Pacific island government source also told the ABC that the Forum Secretariat and Pacific leaders were confident Taiwan would be able to participate in the Honiara meeting without any issues. But the March incident has still stirred anxiety in Taipei, which has been fighting a losing battle with Beijing to maintain diplomatic allies in the Pacific, and which fears China is succeeding in its efforts to marginalise it in the region. Solomon Islands has cut off all official contact with Taiwan in the wake of its decision to switch diplomatic ties to Beijing in 2019, and last year threw its weight behind China's declaration that it will "reunify" the self-ruled island with the mainland. Solomon Islands last year also backed Beijing's push to strip Taiwan of its status as a development partner for the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). That frustrated leaders from the three Pacific nations which retain diplomatic ties with Taiwan, with Palau's President Surangel Whipps even warning that if Taiwan is locked out it could ignite a dispute like the "PIF split" which plunged the organisation into chaos in 2021. Mr Whipps said earlier this week that he had heard Taiwan was having "some difficulty gaining access" to the meeting, and stressed that it was critical Palau be able to hold meetings with its diplomatic partner in Honiara. Solomon Islands has not yet explained why the Taiwanese officials were refused visas in March. The Director of Immigration in Solomon Islands, Chris Akosawa, pointed out that Solomon Islands has recently tightened entry restrictions on Taiwan passport holders, but referred the ABC to the Solomon Islands Foreign Ministry for comment. The ABC sent questions to the Foreign Ministry, but didn't receive a response. So far, Solomon Islands has not given any public assurances that Taiwan will be able to attend the leaders meeting. In May, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele issued a forceful statement reaffirming his government's commitment to the One China Policy and ordering officials "not to engage in any official capacity with representatives or entities associated with 'Taiwan', China". "This includes official visits, communications, commitments, or participation in events involving 'Taiwan', China," he said. On Monday Mr Manele also declined to say whether his government had made a final decision on Taiwan's participation, although he said he was "working very closely with the Forum Secretariat in terms of these arrangements". "We are fully aware of that situation. So we are looking into that, it's a regional meeting and of course countries also have their national interest as well," he said. A second Pacific island government source said Mr Manele's acknowledgement that the PIF leaders meeting is a "regional" gathering was a good sign that "commonsense would prevail" and that Solomon Islands wouldn't upset the status quo. Invitations to PIF leaders and dialogue partners are expected to be issued shortly. Analysts warn that if Taiwan is excluded it would undermine the authority of the PIF Secretariat and set a dangerous precedent which could undermine Pacific unity and see further splintering — particularly with Palau due to host the leaders meeting next year. A third Pacific government source said it also was not clear if the United States would attend the meeting as a dialogue partner if Taiwan was excluded. A spokesperson for Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment on its officials being denied entry but pointed to a 1992 communique endorsed by all PIF leaders which specifically says Taiwan should be able to hold a meeting with Pacific nations "at the same venue as the Forum". "Taiwan will continue to broaden collaboration with the PIF, diplomatic allies in the Pacific, and other like-minded countries, especially in such areas as climate change, food security, clean energy, and talent cultivation, jointly making contributions to the peace, stability, development, and prosperity of the Pacific region." Blake Johnson from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute said while it wasn't yet clear what Solomon Islands would do, it "may be more willing to upset the status quo than people expect". He also said excluding Taiwan from the meeting "certainly could cause fractures within the PIF". "Without the PIF and other regional institutions functioning properly, some Pacific nations will find it more difficult to access support from and participate in valuable initiatives from policing to climate change adaptation funding."
