Apia, Samoa — Political turbulence in Samoa has reached new heights as Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa was announced by the Chair of her party, La’auli Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt to have been expelled after a vote by 20 members of Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party caucus.
The move follows her decision to remove La’auli, from his Cabinet portfolio following criminal charges made by the Samoa Police Service.
The FAST caucus convened three times this week to address the growing tensions, ultimately voting to remove Fiame from her role as party leader and expel her from the party. FAST Chairman La’auli announced the decision, stating, “The majority of our members have decided that Fiame’s actions are no longer in alignment with the vision and values of the FAST party. This was a necessary step to protect the party’s integrity.”
Background: The Removal of La’auli
The decision stems from Fiame’s announcement on Friday, January 10, to remove La’auli from his ministerial portfolios. The action came after multiple charges were filed against La’auli by the Police on January 3.
In a statement, Fiame clarified that her decision was rooted in upholding the rule of law, and public trust. She revealed that La’auli was given options in line with Article 33(3) of the Constitution, including the opportunity to voluntarily resign from his ministerial role pending investigation into the charges. However, his refusal to step down led to her decision to revoke his ministerial appointments.
Party Reaction and Expulsion
Fiame’s decision sparked a rift within the FAST party. This led to internal divisions and prompted calls for her leadership to be reviewed.
During this week’s caucus meetings, the 20-member majority voted to expel Fiame from the party and remove her as leader. “The decision reflects the will of the caucus to prioritize party unity and trust,” La’auli stated during the announcement on Facebook live.
Implications of Expulsion
In Samoa, the Electoral Act 2019 and Article 49A of the Constitution outline the process for handling the expulsion of a Member of Parliament (MP) from their political party. If an MP is expelled, the party must formally notify the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in writing, detailing the reasons for the expulsion. This step ensures transparency and adherence to party rules and procedures.
Once the Speaker receives the notification, and if the MP chooses to join another party, they are deemed to have vacated their parliamentary seat.
However Fiame and the four MPs ousted by FAST can choose to remain in the house as Independents.
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