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RNZ News
4 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Explainer: The saga of Samoa's state affairs and what comes next
Photo: RNZ Pacific/Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor The year 2025 was only days old when Samoa's political system hit turbulence. Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa removed La'auli Leuatea Schmidt as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries in the second week of January. A government statement said this matter arose following the formal announcement of allegations implicating the minister. La'auli faced several criminal charges, and speculation raged in Samoa and on social media, prompting the police commissioner to clarify the charges against him . Fiame removed several more ministers before La'auli - still the chairman of FAST - turned around and sacked the prime minister from her own party. Samoan community in Auckland unite in prayer for Samoa amid political turmoil. Photo: LJ Lolesio The Samoan diaspora in New Zealand expressed their concerns, holding a prayer gathering in Auckland earlier this year. Fiame faced two votes of no confidence , her first on 25 February and her second on 6 March. But last month she conceded defeat after her government's budget was voted down. MPs from both the opposition Human Rights Protection Party and Fiame's former FAST party joined forces to defeat the budget with the final vote coming in 34 against, 16 in support and 2 abstentions. Prime Minister Fiame led a faction of 15 MPs, including notable figures like now-former deputy prime minister Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio. The other FAST party faction is led by La'auli, while long-serving opposition leader and former prime minister, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, heads the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP). In 2021, La'auli stepped aside to allow Fiame to lead the FAST party during the elections. Both FAST and HRPP ended with 25 candidates each, which prompted independent MP Ponifasio to become a pivotal figure by aligning with FAST, resulting in Fiame becoming Samoa's first female prime minister. Samoas Deputy Prime Minister Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio after Parliament Budget sitting failed. Photo: Junior S Ami Samoa's Parliament was formally dissolved on 3 June and the country is heading to an early election. Electoral Commissioner Toleafoa Tuiafelolo Stanley had sought an additional six weeks to aide in preparations but this was declined by the Supreme Court on 5 June. RNZ Pacific correspondent Galumalemana Tipi Autagavaia attended the hearing. Chief justice Satiu Simativa Perese said there is a big gap in the constitution that conflicts with the Electoral Act, and his advice is for the next government to look at this. The Electoral Commissioner informed local media after the court hearing, in the presence of Galumalemana, that the election date is set for 29 August. He indicated that the electoral roll will close at the end of June. The head of state will provide official confirmation next Tuesday with a formal writ detailing the election date and the deadline for closing the election roll. Samoas Speaker of the House Papali'i Li'o Taeu Masipau Photo: Junior S Ami
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
No extended time for Samoa election prep, court rules
The first day of the first sitting of Samoa's parliament for 2025 Photo: Parliament of Samoa Samoa's Supreme Court has ruled against extra time for the Electoral Commission to complete the electoral rolls ahead of an early election. It follows the formal dissolution of its parliament on 3 June in the wake of several months of political uncertainty. Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa had said she would call for the dissolution of parliament if Cabinet did not support her government's budget. MPs from both the opposition Human Rights Protection Party and Fiame's former FAST party joined forces to defeat the budget with the final vote coming in 34 against, 16 in support and 2 abstentions. Samoa's Electoral Commissioner said his office has filed an affidavit to the Supreme Court, seeking legal direction and an extra six weeks to complete the electoral roll ahead of an early election. But the court has ruled there will be no extension. More to come.
ABC News
28-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
Samoa to hold snap elections amidst fallout between Fiame and FAST party
Samoans are heading for an early election, after Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa called for the dissolution of parliament. The call came after the her government's budget was voted down by a combination of opposition and FAST party MPs. It's another twist in a long running saga that has seen Fiame survive two votes of no confidence earlier in the year. Many however are not surprised that the budget failed to pass through. "Given the way the parliament has operated over the past year, this is not surprising at all," said Samoan human rights scholar and journalist Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson. "We've never been in a stage before where we have three parties to this degree where it does impact the decisions of parliament."
ABC News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
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.
ABC News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Samoa 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 Fiame's FAST party and former Cabinet Minister. The next election is due around April next year but calls for an early poll follows months of political turmoil beginning in January when the PM sacked La'auli. He retaliated by removing her from the FAST party and failed to remove Prime Minister Fiame 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.
