Latest news with #La'auliLeuateaSchmidt
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
ABC News
27-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Failed budget vote ends Fiame Naomi Mata'afa's government and triggers early Samoan election
One of the Pacific's only female leaders has lost her grip on power, triggering an early election in Samoa, after failing to pass the national budget in the country's parliament. Samoa's Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa conceded defeat on the floor of parliament on Tuesday morning after her government's budget was voted down 34-16. Known as the Pacific's "Iron lady", Fiame will now seek a dissolution of parliament and will lead Samoa as its caretaker leader until Samoans go to the polls for an early election. Her announcement follows months of political instability and infighting between the prime minister and members of her former party, the FAST Party, which expelled her earlier in the year. The expulsion came after Fiame forced the resignation of her former colleague and chairman of the FAST Party, La'auli Leuatea Schmidt, after he was charged with serious criminal offences. Mr Schmidt then isolated Fiame, meaning she was effectively leading the country in minority government. After a series of unsuccessful no-confidence motions — where Fiame's martial status was also questioned — today Mr Schmidt and Samoa's official opposition party, led by former long-term prime minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi, succeeded in bringing about an early election. Deputy head of the Department of Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University, George Carter, said no matter the outcome of the upcoming election, Fiame would leave behind an impressive legacy. "She is a leader who has used all political and traditional capital to bring people together to fight for anti-corruption and built confidence in her public service." Fiame won a groundbreaking election in 2021, ending four decades of rule by the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), led by Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi, becoming the first woman head of government in Samoa. If she were to lose the election, it would make Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine the only remaining female leader in the Pacific region. However, Dr Carter said Fiame's political career was far from over. "Many will watch to see if a new party under Fiame will come forth, so there's still a lot of action and intrigue to come," he said.
RNZ News
08-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
'What crisis?': Samoan PM Fiame hits out at opponent over early election call
Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa during a press conference in Apia on 14 January 2025. Photo: Screengrab/Radio Samoa In its latest attempt to oust Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, Samoa's FAST Party is taking legal action to try and secure an early general election. However, Fiame poured cold water on the idea, saying she doubted parliament would agree to it. FAST chairman La'auli Leuatea Schmidt, who was terminated as Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries in January , says the party is seeking a Supreme Court ruling on whether it is legal for Fiame to rule with a minority government. "Where else in the world do you see this? It's unconstitutional," he told RNZ Pacific. "Parliament should be dissolved as soon as possible and next year's election brought forward, in a bid to peacefully resolve the ongoing political crisis," he said. Fiame's response was swift. "What crisis? You know the country is running and the thing is, [La'auli] may well call for it, but it wont happen until parliament meets." She said the latest twist came as no surprise to her. "The only way it [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. La'auli rejected that idea, saying the leader of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi was "too unreliable." "I don't care whether he agrees or not, we have the numbers," he said. Left to right: FAST Party chairman Laauli Leuatea Schmidt, Prime Ministers Fiame, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, opposition leader Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi. Photo: RNZ Pacific/123RF/Samoa Government/FAST Party The political stalemate was prompted by a split in the FAST Party in January, which saw Fiame remove La'auli and several FAST ministers from her Cabinet. He, in turn, rejected her from FAST, leaving her isolated and leading a minority government. Parliament consists of 51 members and two reserve seats for women. The FAST Party has 20 MPs, the HRPP 18, and Fiame 15, including herself. The Prime Minister's supporters include five Independent MPs and nine MPs still registered with FAST, which would theoretically give the party a majority of 29. Members of FAST had called for the Prime Minister to step down and allow the party to continue holding office under new leadership. However, Fiame refused and has survived two leadership challenges so far this year. She defeated a vote of no confidence in February by 34 votes to 15, after weeks of political turmoil. La'auli voted alongside Fiame to defeat the motion moved by Tuilaepa against her. A week later, she overcame a second no confidence vote by 32 votes to 14. This time, Tuilaepa voted with her to defeat the motion moved by La'auli. RNZ Pacific has made multiple attempts to contact Tuilaepa for comment on the latest call for an early election, but have not received a response.
