News report by Aarya Krishnan
Apai (Samoa) May 24: Samoa is a Pacific Polynesian island nation with a population of roughly 2 lakhs. This little island nation has recently been in the news due to an electoral deadlock.
The Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) has been in power in Samoa for 40 years, with Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi as Prime Minister since 1998.However, in 2020, a faction of the HRPP split off to form the Faatuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi, a new political party (FAST). Ms Fiame Naomi Mata’afa is the current leader of FAST. (Image credit: Wikipedia)
In April, elections were held in Samoa, and HRPP won only 25 of the 51 seats, with the remaining 25 seats going in favour of FAST. An independent candidate won the remaining seat creating a deadlock. In Samoa, the head of state is usually akin to a king, but with less power, and usually just performs ceremonial tasks such as giving greater approval to laws enacted by the parliament, and so on. The prime minister, who is usually selected by the head of state to form a government, is the leader of the majority in the Fono (Fono is a unicameral or single chambered Legislative assembly)
The current Head of State of Samoa stepped in and used his power to elect HRPP’s woman candidate in order to meet the requirement that women hold at least 10% of seats in parliament, which was only 9.8% in the recent election. This brought HRPP’s total to 26, giving them a majority.
FAST petitioned the Supreme Court, which ruled against the head of the state’s move and ordered the extra seat given to HRPP to be cancelled. Simultaneously, the independent candidate who had won the election allied with FAST, bringing their total to 26, resulting in a deadlock again. FAST was proclaimed the majority party by the supreme court, and its leader Ms. Fiame Naomi Mata’afa was set to be sworn in as prime minister.
However, Mr. Tuimalealiifano, the HRPP’s leader and acting prime minister, retaliated by closing parliament and fleeing the capital. Parliament must be summoned and a prime minister appointed within 45 days following the election results, according to the constitution. The Supreme Court ordered FAST to hold the swearing-in ceremony on the 45th day, which occurred on 24th May 2021.
Meanwhile based on the orders of the previous prime minister, members of FAST were not allowed inside the parliament, so a tent was erected outside the parliament building, and Ms. Naomi was sworn in as Prime Minister. The interim Prime Minister has now refused to resign, accusing the swearing-in ceremony as an act of treason. Even as the deadlock continues, both parties are pursuing legal action against each other on various counts.
The United Nations has advised political leaders in Samoa to use diplomacy and dialogue to settle the political crisis. Meanwhile, the Federated States of Micronesia became the first country to recognise the new administration and Prime Minister Naomi Mata’afa as legitimate. Then came Palau, which followed suit.
