Latest news with #TuilaepaMalielegaoi
ABC News
5 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
'We expect to get the majority', says Tuila'epa
Samoa's former long time prime minister Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi believes his party has a good chance of regaining power after the implosion of the ruling FAST Party. Tuila'epa reign of more than two decades came to an end in 2021 when a court ruled Fiame Naomi Mata'afa was the rightful prime minister after a months-long constitutional crisis. However, infighting and dispute within Fiame's government will now culminate in the dissolution of parliament and early elections. It came about this week when FAST MPs refused to pass the budget put forward by Fiame. Parliament will be dissolved next week and fresh elections are due to be held sometime in the next three months. "We expect to get the majority," said former Prime Minister and leader of the opposition HRPP. Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi told ABC Pacific. "All we have are problems after problems confronting the country," he added.
ABC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Fiji president suspends anti-corruption chief, fires deputy
On the program today: Drama in Fiji as the head of the country's anti-corruption commission, Barbara Malimali is suspended and her deputy sacked as police investigate her appointment. A series of high profile meetings between Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and a host of his Pacific counterparts have wrapped up in China. A new parliamentary committee has been set up in Papua New Guinea to protect children who make up 43 per cent of the nation's population. Samoa's former long time prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, believes his party has a good chance of regaining power after the implosion of the ruling FAST Party. It's win or bust, do or die, for head coach Tana Umaga as Moana Pasifika face the Wellington Hurricanes this weekend, for a shot at the playoffs. Fijian Drua co-captain Tevita Ikanivere and lock forward Isoa Nasilasila will become the first players to have made 50 Super Rugby appearances for Fthe iji team. Despite her footballing genes, getting out on the pitch wasn't always on the cards for Bella-May Fa'arodo. We meet the young footballer who's been turning heads at regional level.
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.
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.
RNZ News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
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 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.
