Latest news with #HumanRightsProtectionParty
10-06-2025
- Politics
Samoa to hold snap election on Aug. 29 after PM's government collapses
NEWCASTLE, Australia -- Samoa will head to the polls on Aug. 29, a half-year earlier than expected, after Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata'afa's government collapsed following a budget defeat in parliament late last month. Fiamē, who became the South Pacific island nation's first female prime minister in 2021 and ended four decades of Human Rights Protection Party rule, now faces a three-way political battle that has ramifications far beyond Samoa. The snap election comes at a time of heightened geopolitical interest in the South Pacific, with Samoa viewed as a strategic player in the growing contest for regional influence between China and traditional partners like Australia and the United States. Climate change is also seen as an existential threat for the Samoan archipelago, which has a population of 200,000 people, and is among the world's most imperiled by rising seas. Fiamē's FAST government fractured earlier this year after she fired party chairman La'auli Leuatea Polataivao from the cabinet over criminal charges. The move triggered a party split. Though Fiamē survived two no-confidence votes, a combined effort by HRPP and FAST defectors to block her budget forced the early election. Fiamē now leads the newly formed Samoa Uniting Party, facing off against her former boss Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi's HRPP and La'auli's rebranded FAST.
San Francisco Chronicle
10-06-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Samoa to hold snap election on Aug. 29 after PM's government collapses
NEWCASTLE, Australia (AP) — Samoa will head to the polls on Aug. 29, a half-year earlier than expected, after Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata'afa's government collapsed following a budget defeat in parliament late last month. Fiamē, who became the South Pacific island nation's first female prime minister in 2021 and ended four decades of Human Rights Protection Party rule, now faces a three-way political battle that has ramifications far beyond Samoa. The snap election comes at a time of heightened geopolitical interest in the South Pacific, with Samoa viewed as a strategic player in the growing contest for regional influence between China and traditional partners like Australia and the United States. Climate change is also seen as an existential threat for the Samoan archipelago, which has a population of 200,000 people, and is among the world's most imperiled by rising seas. Fiamē's FAST government fractured earlier this year after she fired party chairman La'auli Leuatea Polataivao from the cabinet over criminal charges. The move triggered a party split. Though Fiamē survived two no-confidence votes, a combined effort by HRPP and FAST defectors to block her budget forced the early election.
The Advertiser
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Date set for snap election in Samoa
Samoa's election will take place on August 29, when the south Pacific nation will head to the polls in an intriguing contest. The election is taking place a year earlier than expected, following the collapse of Fiame Naomi Mata'afa's government. When elected in 2021, Fiame ended four decades of rule by the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), and the 23-year prime ministership of Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi. She also became Samoa's first woman prime minister. She is currently just one of two female heads of government in the Pacific. However, the 68-year-old struck trouble earlier this year when she sacked her FAST party chairman from cabinet for a slew of criminal cases. That act split her party in two, with Fiame remaining in government with loyalists to her leadership, while others left the government under the FAST banner. She survived two no-confidence votes but the FAST and HRPP combined their votes to sink Fiame's budget last month, precipitating the early election. That decision will mean the contest is likely to be a three-cornered tussle, between Tuila'epa's HRPP, Fiame's newly formed Samoa Uniting Party, and the FAST, under sacked minister La'auli Leuatea Polataivao. In another quirk of Samoan politics, both Fiame and La'auli are both former HRPP, with Fiame serving as Tuila'epa's deputy prime minister from 2016-2020. Other parties will contest the poll, including the Samoa National Democratic Party, Democracy Republic Party and the newly registered Samoa Labor Party. The snap poll caused a rush among voters to update their registration and have their say. Enrolment jumped from 52 per cent of the eligible population a fortnight ago to 59 per cent, according to the Samoa Observer. The Head of State, Tuimalealiifano Sualauvi Vaaletoa II, formally announced the election date on Tuesday, after the Supreme Court rejected a bid to allow more time for preparations. Samoa's election will take place on August 29, when the south Pacific nation will head to the polls in an intriguing contest. The election is taking place a year earlier than expected, following the collapse of Fiame Naomi Mata'afa's government. When elected in 2021, Fiame ended four decades of rule by the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), and the 23-year prime ministership of Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi. She also became Samoa's first woman prime minister. She is currently just one of two female heads of government in the Pacific. However, the 68-year-old struck trouble earlier this year when she sacked her FAST party chairman from cabinet for a slew of criminal cases. That act split her party in two, with Fiame remaining in government with loyalists to her leadership, while others left the government under the FAST banner. She survived two no-confidence votes but the FAST and HRPP combined their votes to sink Fiame's budget last month, precipitating the early election. That decision will mean the contest is likely to be a three-cornered tussle, between Tuila'epa's HRPP, Fiame's newly formed Samoa Uniting Party, and the FAST, under sacked minister La'auli Leuatea Polataivao. In another quirk of Samoan politics, both Fiame and La'auli are both former HRPP, with Fiame serving as Tuila'epa's deputy prime minister from 2016-2020. Other parties will contest the poll, including the Samoa National Democratic Party, Democracy Republic Party and the newly registered Samoa Labor Party. The snap poll caused a rush among voters to update their registration and have their say. Enrolment jumped from 52 per cent of the eligible population a fortnight ago to 59 per cent, according to the Samoa Observer. The Head of State, Tuimalealiifano Sualauvi Vaaletoa II, formally announced the election date on Tuesday, after the Supreme Court rejected a bid to allow more time for preparations. Samoa's election will take place on August 29, when the south Pacific nation will head to the polls in an intriguing contest. The election is taking place a year earlier than expected, following the collapse of Fiame Naomi Mata'afa's government. When elected in 2021, Fiame ended four decades of rule by the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), and the 23-year prime ministership of Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi. She also became Samoa's first woman prime minister. She is currently just one of two female heads of government in the Pacific. However, the 68-year-old struck trouble earlier this year when she sacked her FAST party chairman from cabinet for a slew of criminal cases. That act split her party in two, with Fiame remaining in government with loyalists to her leadership, while others left the government under the FAST banner. She survived two no-confidence votes but the FAST and HRPP combined their votes to sink Fiame's budget last month, precipitating the early election. That decision will mean the contest is likely to be a three-cornered tussle, between Tuila'epa's HRPP, Fiame's newly formed Samoa Uniting Party, and the FAST, under sacked minister La'auli Leuatea Polataivao. In another quirk of Samoan politics, both Fiame and La'auli are both former HRPP, with Fiame serving as Tuila'epa's deputy prime minister from 2016-2020. Other parties will contest the poll, including the Samoa National Democratic Party, Democracy Republic Party and the newly registered Samoa Labor Party. The snap poll caused a rush among voters to update their registration and have their say. Enrolment jumped from 52 per cent of the eligible population a fortnight ago to 59 per cent, according to the Samoa Observer. The Head of State, Tuimalealiifano Sualauvi Vaaletoa II, formally announced the election date on Tuesday, after the Supreme Court rejected a bid to allow more time for preparations. Samoa's election will take place on August 29, when the south Pacific nation will head to the polls in an intriguing contest. The election is taking place a year earlier than expected, following the collapse of Fiame Naomi Mata'afa's government. When elected in 2021, Fiame ended four decades of rule by the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), and the 23-year prime ministership of Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi. She also became Samoa's first woman prime minister. She is currently just one of two female heads of government in the Pacific. However, the 68-year-old struck trouble earlier this year when she sacked her FAST party chairman from cabinet for a slew of criminal cases. That act split her party in two, with Fiame remaining in government with loyalists to her leadership, while others left the government under the FAST banner. She survived two no-confidence votes but the FAST and HRPP combined their votes to sink Fiame's budget last month, precipitating the early election. That decision will mean the contest is likely to be a three-cornered tussle, between Tuila'epa's HRPP, Fiame's newly formed Samoa Uniting Party, and the FAST, under sacked minister La'auli Leuatea Polataivao. In another quirk of Samoan politics, both Fiame and La'auli are both former HRPP, with Fiame serving as Tuila'epa's deputy prime minister from 2016-2020. Other parties will contest the poll, including the Samoa National Democratic Party, Democracy Republic Party and the newly registered Samoa Labor Party. The snap poll caused a rush among voters to update their registration and have their say. Enrolment jumped from 52 per cent of the eligible population a fortnight ago to 59 per cent, according to the Samoa Observer. The Head of State, Tuimalealiifano Sualauvi Vaaletoa II, formally announced the election date on Tuesday, after the Supreme Court rejected a bid to allow more time for preparations.
Perth Now
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Date set for snap election in Samoa
Samoa's election will take place on August 29, when the south Pacific nation will head to the polls in an intriguing contest. The election is taking place a year earlier than expected, following the collapse of Fiame Naomi Mata'afa's government. When elected in 2021, Fiame ended four decades of rule by the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), and the 23-year prime ministership of Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi. She also became Samoa's first woman prime minister. She is currently just one of two female heads of government in the Pacific. However, the 68-year-old struck trouble earlier this year when she sacked her FAST party chairman from cabinet for a slew of criminal cases. That act split her party in two, with Fiame remaining in government with loyalists to her leadership, while others left the government under the FAST banner. She survived two no-confidence votes but the FAST and HRPP combined their votes to sink Fiame's budget last month, precipitating the early election. That decision will mean the contest is likely to be a three-cornered tussle, between Tuila'epa's HRPP, Fiame's newly formed Samoa Uniting Party, and the FAST, under sacked minister La'auli Leuatea Polataivao. In another quirk of Samoan politics, both Fiame and La'auli are both former HRPP, with Fiame serving as Tuila'epa's deputy prime minister from 2016-2020. Other parties will contest the poll, including the Samoa National Democratic Party, Democracy Republic Party and the newly registered Samoa Labor Party. The snap poll caused a rush among voters to update their registration and have their say. Enrolment jumped from 52 per cent of the eligible population a fortnight ago to 59 per cent, according to the Samoa Observer. The Head of State, Tuimalealiifano Sualauvi Vaaletoa II, formally announced the election date on Tuesday, after the Supreme Court rejected a bid to allow more time for preparations.
Scoop
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Explainer: The Saga Of Samoa's State Affairs And What Comes Next
Article – RNZ The year 2025 was only days old when Samoa's political system hit turbulence., RNZ Pacific Journalist 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. 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. Who is involved 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. What happens next 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 was a big gap in the constitution that conflicts with the Electoral Act, and his advice was 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.
