Samoa’s Political Shift After Close Election Results
Samoa’s former leader, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, did not secure a majority in the Pacific nation’s recent elections, concluding months of political tensions.
Official results released by the electoral commission confirmed the opposition party, Fast, secured 30 of the 50 parliamentary seats. This paves the way for Fast’s leader, La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt, to likely become the next prime minister.
He will succeed Fiame, often referred to as the “Iron Lady of the Pacific,” whose party, Sup, claimed only three seats.
Fiame had removed La’aulialemalietoa from her cabinet in 2023 after he faced allegations of harassment and obstructing justice—charges he denies. When he declined to step down, she dismissed him. Shortly after, she was pushed out of Fast, which then appointed him as leader. In response, Fiame formed Sup and took legal action, accusing him of spreading false claims during the campaign.
Fiame made history in 2021 as Samoa’s first female leader, though her tenure began amid uncertainty. A closely contested election led to legal disputes and political delays, leaving the country without a functioning government for 45 days. She was eventually sworn in outside parliament after being barred from entering the chamber.
Her leadership faced further challenges in April when widespread power outages triggered a state of emergency, drawing criticism of her government. These disruptions affected an economy already struggling with inflation.
In May, she dissolved parliament after lawmakers overwhelmingly rejected her proposed budget. She had been serving as acting prime minister since the previous government collapsed.
Economic concerns, particularly rising living costs, were a major issue for voters in the country of around 220,000 people.
“Nobody wants a repeat of 2021,” broadcaster Tui Eddie Taualapini remarked before the election. “People simply want a government formed quickly and a budget passed.”
With Agence France-Presse
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