Samoa: Prime Minister Fiame’s position to be determined by the neutral courts while Government work slows down
On 6 February, the Opposition leader, Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, announced his party would challenge Prime Minister (PM) Fiame’s current status through the courts, and would also withdraw their participation from Parliamentary Committees. In mid-January, PM Fiame, the Deputy PM, and four ministers were removed from the ruling FAST Party but retained their Governmental positions. Their removal was retaliation for the FAST Party Chairman’s earlier removal from his ministerial position (see SPI #13, 16-29 January 2025). On 8 February, shortly after the Opposition’s announcements, the FAST Party Chairman called for PM Fiame to resign.
Assessment: Tuilaepa is manoeuvring to replace FAST in government with his own party. During the first parliamentary session following PM Fiame’s removal from FAST, he refused to support the FAST Party Chairman’s attempt to have the Prime Ministership removed and claimed to back PM Fiame “500%”. However, he quickly turned over a few days to challenge PM Fiame in the courts. Tuilaepa is doing his best to see that neither PM Fiame nor the Chairman retain the Prime Ministership leaving himself as the only option. Both the Chairman and Tuilaepa have also stated they wish to avoid a snap election, probably perceiving that PM Fiame has popular public support. The courts are a neutral ground to decide PM Fiame’s future in the role, but the legal challenge and the Opposition’s withdrawal from Parliamentary Committees will slow down Government work. Fiame is likely to consider offering Tuilaepa ministerial positions to halt legal action.
Sources: Marieta Heidi Ilalio, “Led by Tyrants Says Tuilaepa,” Samoa Observer, February 3, 2025; Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi, “HRPP Seeks Legal Clarification on Minority Govt.,” Samoa Observer, February 7, 2025; Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi, “Call for Fiame to Resign, La'auli to Be PM,” Samoa Observer, February 8, 2025; Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi, “HRPP Withdraws from Parliamentary Committees,” Samoa Observer, February 8, 2025.
