Samoa takes a step into uncertainty with snap election

The Advertiser

a day ago

Samoa's parliament will dissolve next week ahead of the Pacific nation's first snap election in 40 years, but it's still not clear when the polling day will be - or its contestants.
Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa is reportedly poised to set up a new party to run in the polls, just a week after her government was brought down.
Fiame was unable to pass her budget this week, crippling her minority government and prompting a trip to the head of state.
"The Head of State signed the notice of dissolution of the Legislative Assembly this afternoon to be effective on the 3rd of June 2025," Fiame said in a national statement.
Fiame said the judiciary must determine the poll day, given the electoral act asks parties and candidates to be confirmed six months from an election, but the constitution requires an election to be held three months after parliament's dissolution.
The fall of the 68-year-old's government is another watershed moment in Samoa's democracy.
In 2021, Fiame became the first female prime minister in Samoa's history, and one of the few to have led a Pacific government, ending the 23-year reign of Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi.
Fiame's decision in January to eject La'auli Leuatea Schmidt, the FAST party chairman, from cabinet over a raft of criminal charges precipitated this year's crisis.
Several MPs walked with La'auli, reducing Fiame's government to a minority, and while she survived a pair of no-confidence motions earlier this year, the budget impasse ended her reign.
In a scathing editorial published this week, the Samoa Observer said La'auli and his supporters were responsible for the early poll - and the constitutional crunch.
"How did we get here? The answer is simple. It is the failure by some in power to follow the law and think that their positions make them untouchable," the editorial read.
"And who suffers? The people of this nation.
"If the law had been followed and there had been no intention of manipulating it to suit people's agendas, the path to the next general elections would have been smoother."
The editorial did not spare Fiame, saying she should have addressed the nation more often, "leading many to question her ability to lead the nation".
"But one thing she has done properly is follow the law. That attribute is leader-like," it continued.
While Fiame is reportedly planning to launch a new party when parliament dissolves, the legal uncertainty means it is not clear whether it will be allowed.
The Samoa Observer said citizens should prepare for an election season with "many gifts" to be showered across districts.
"But under the law and being morally righteous, as Christians, is it right for us to take these gifts?" it read.
"Wake up, Samoa. It is said all is part of God's plan, and if it is, the power has been handed back to the people to elect people into power who will work for the people and not for themselves."
Samoa's parliament will dissolve next week ahead of the Pacific nation's first snap election in 40 years, but it's still not clear when the polling day will be - or its contestants.
Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa is reportedly poised to set up a new party to run in the polls, just a week after her government was brought down.
Fiame was unable to pass her budget this week, crippling her minority government and prompting a trip to the head of state.
"The Head of State signed the notice of dissolution of the Legislative Assembly this afternoon to be effective on the 3rd of June 2025," Fiame said in a national statement.
Fiame said the judiciary must determine the poll day, given the electoral act asks parties and candidates to be confirmed six months from an election, but the constitution requires an election to be held three months after parliament's dissolution.
The fall of the 68-year-old's government is another watershed moment in Samoa's democracy.
In 2021, Fiame became the first female prime minister in Samoa's history, and one of the few to have led a Pacific government, ending the 23-year reign of Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi.
Fiame's decision in January to eject La'auli Leuatea Schmidt, the FAST party chairman, from cabinet over a raft of criminal charges precipitated this year's crisis.
Several MPs walked with La'auli, reducing Fiame's government to a minority, and while she survived a pair of no-confidence motions earlier this year, the budget impasse ended her reign.
In a scathing editorial published this week, the Samoa Observer said La'auli and his supporters were responsible for the early poll - and the constitutional crunch.
"How did we get here? The answer is simple. It is the failure by some in power to follow the law and think that their positions make them untouchable," the editorial read.
"And who suffers? The people of this nation.
"If the law had been followed and there had been no intention of manipulating it to suit people's agendas, the path to the next general elections would have been smoother."
The editorial did not spare Fiame, saying she should have addressed the nation more often, "leading many to question her ability to lead the nation".
"But one thing she has done properly is follow the law. That attribute is leader-like," it continued.
While Fiame is reportedly planning to launch a new party when parliament dissolves, the legal uncertainty means it is not clear whether it will be allowed.
The Samoa Observer said citizens should prepare for an election season with "many gifts" to be showered across districts.
"But under the law and being morally righteous, as Christians, is it right for us to take these gifts?" it read.
"Wake up, Samoa. It is said all is part of God's plan, and if it is, the power has been handed back to the people to elect people into power who will work for the people and not for themselves."
Samoa's parliament will dissolve next week ahead of the Pacific nation's first snap election in 40 years, but it's still not clear when the polling day will be - or its contestants.
Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa is reportedly poised to set up a new party to run in the polls, just a week after her government was brought down.
Fiame was unable to pass her budget this week, crippling her minority government and prompting a trip to the head of state.
"The Head of State signed the notice of dissolution of the Legislative Assembly this afternoon to be effective on the 3rd of June 2025," Fiame said in a national statement.
Fiame said the judiciary must determine the poll day, given the electoral act asks parties and candidates to be confirmed six months from an election, but the constitution requires an election to be held three months after parliament's dissolution.
The fall of the 68-year-old's government is another watershed moment in Samoa's democracy.
In 2021, Fiame became the first female prime minister in Samoa's history, and one of the few to have led a Pacific government, ending the 23-year reign of Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi.
Fiame's decision in January to eject La'auli Leuatea Schmidt, the FAST party chairman, from cabinet over a raft of criminal charges precipitated this year's crisis.
Several MPs walked with La'auli, reducing Fiame's government to a minority, and while she survived a pair of no-confidence motions earlier this year, the budget impasse ended her reign.
In a scathing editorial published this week, the Samoa Observer said La'auli and his supporters were responsible for the early poll - and the constitutional crunch.
"How did we get here? The answer is simple. It is the failure by some in power to follow the law and think that their positions make them untouchable," the editorial read.
"And who suffers? The people of this nation.
"If the law had been followed and there had been no intention of manipulating it to suit people's agendas, the path to the next general elections would have been smoother."
The editorial did not spare Fiame, saying she should have addressed the nation more often, "leading many to question her ability to lead the nation".
"But one thing she has done properly is follow the law. That attribute is leader-like," it continued.
While Fiame is reportedly planning to launch a new party when parliament dissolves, the legal uncertainty means it is not clear whether it will be allowed.
The Samoa Observer said citizens should prepare for an election season with "many gifts" to be showered across districts.
"But under the law and being morally righteous, as Christians, is it right for us to take these gifts?" it read.
"Wake up, Samoa. It is said all is part of God's plan, and if it is, the power has been handed back to the people to elect people into power who will work for the people and not for themselves."
Samoa's parliament will dissolve next week ahead of the Pacific nation's first snap election in 40 years, but it's still not clear when the polling day will be - or its contestants.
Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa is reportedly poised to set up a new party to run in the polls, just a week after her government was brought down.
Fiame was unable to pass her budget this week, crippling her minority government and prompting a trip to the head of state.
"The Head of State signed the notice of dissolution of the Legislative Assembly this afternoon to be effective on the 3rd of June 2025," Fiame said in a national statement.
Fiame said the judiciary must determine the poll day, given the electoral act asks parties and candidates to be confirmed six months from an election, but the constitution requires an election to be held three months after parliament's dissolution.
The fall of the 68-year-old's government is another watershed moment in Samoa's democracy.
In 2021, Fiame became the first female prime minister in Samoa's history, and one of the few to have led a Pacific government, ending the 23-year reign of Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi.
Fiame's decision in January to eject La'auli Leuatea Schmidt, the FAST party chairman, from cabinet over a raft of criminal charges precipitated this year's crisis.
Several MPs walked with La'auli, reducing Fiame's government to a minority, and while she survived a pair of no-confidence motions earlier this year, the budget impasse ended her reign.
In a scathing editorial published this week, the Samoa Observer said La'auli and his supporters were responsible for the early poll - and the constitutional crunch.
"How did we get here? The answer is simple. It is the failure by some in power to follow the law and think that their positions make them untouchable," the editorial read.
"And who suffers? The people of this nation.
"If the law had been followed and there had been no intention of manipulating it to suit people's agendas, the path to the next general elections would have been smoother."
The editorial did not spare Fiame, saying she should have addressed the nation more often, "leading many to question her ability to lead the nation".
"But one thing she has done properly is follow the law. That attribute is leader-like," it continued.
While Fiame is reportedly planning to launch a new party when parliament dissolves, the legal uncertainty means it is not clear whether it will be allowed.
The Samoa Observer said citizens should prepare for an election season with "many gifts" to be showered across districts.
"But under the law and being morally righteous, as Christians, is it right for us to take these gifts?" it read.
"Wake up, Samoa. It is said all is part of God's plan, and if it is, the power has been handed back to the people to elect people into power who will work for the people and not for themselves."