CoveragePost
June 3, 2025
RNZ Pacific Samoa’s Parliament has been formally dissolved, and an early election is set to take place within three months. After months of political instability and two motions of no confidence, Prime Minister Fiāme Naomi Mata’afa said she would call for the dissolution of Parliament if cabinet did not support her government’s budget. MPs from ... <a title="Samoa parliament formally dissolved after months of uncertainty" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/03/samoa-parliament-formally-dissolved-after-months-of-uncertainty/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa parliament formally dissolved after months of uncertainty">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 28, 2025
RNZ Pacific Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa has advised Samoa’s head of state that it is necessary to dissolve Parliament so the country can move to an election. This follows the bill for the budget not getting enough support for a first reading on yesterday, and Fiame announcing she would therefore seek an early election. ... <a title="Samoan PM Fiamē advises dissolution of parliament, calls for snap elections" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/05/28/samoan-pm-fiame-advises-dissolution-of-parliament-calls-for-snap-elections/" aria-label="Read more about Samoan PM Fiamē advises dissolution of parliament, calls for snap elections">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 15, 2021
EDITORIAL: By the Samoa Observer editorial board When Australia’s second-longest ever serving Prime Minister faced a complete wipeout at the national elections after 10 years in power — even being voted out of his own seat — he realised that he had lost but only as part of a process much bigger than he was. ... <a title="Samoa Observer: For Tuila’epa, what follows defeat?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/07/15/samoa-observer-for-tuilaepa-what-follows-defeat/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa Observer: For Tuila’epa, what follows defeat?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 13, 2021
RNZ Pacific Samoa’s HRPP party — the country’s caretaker government — has now lost six seats since the April 9 general election, with eight byelections to come. The incoming FAST Party government holds 26 seats to the HRPP’s 19. FAST, which won the election but has been stymied in its efforts to assume power by ... <a title="Samoa’s HRPP loses more seats as political impasse drags on" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/07/13/samoas-hrpp-loses-more-seats-as-political-impasse-drags-on/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa’s HRPP loses more seats as political impasse drags on">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 21, 2021
By Lagi Keresoma in Apia Samoa’s Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal by the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) against the Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned the appointment of a sixth woman Member of Parliament, Ali’imalemanu Alofa Tu’u’au. This paves the way for the sitting of Parliament (Fale Fono) on Monday as proclaimed by ... <a title="Samoa’s Fale Fono convenes Monday as court rules against HRPP appeal" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/21/samoas-fale-fono-convenes-monday-as-court-rules-against-hrpp-appeal/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa’s Fale Fono convenes Monday as court rules against HRPP appeal">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 19, 2021
RNZ Pacific Samoa’s Head of State has agreed to convene Parliament in order to swear in the members elected in April’s general election after weeks of political deadlock. Leaders of the majority FAST party – which won 26 of 51 seats – met with Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aleto’a Sualauvi II today to request that Parliament be called ... <a title="Samoa’s Head of State will convene Fono parliament to swear in MPs" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/19/samoas-head-of-state-will-convene-fono-parliament-to-swear-in-mps/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa’s Head of State will convene Fono parliament to swear in MPs">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 16, 2021
RNZ News Samoa is to hear on Monday whether fresh elections will go ahead next week. The Supreme Court heard challenges yesterday to the new ballot called last week by the Head of State, Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II. Chief Justice Satiu Simativa Perese said the hearing would test the extent of the powers held by ... <a title="Samoa court test case ruling on fresh elections due Monday" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/16/samoa-court-test-case-ruling-on-fresh-elections-due-monday/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa court test case ruling on fresh elections due Monday">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 10, 2021
EDITORIAL: By the Samoa Observer editorial board The caretaker Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, thinks the newspaper you hold in your hands is dedicated to trying to “tear down” the Samoan government but the broader economic progress of Samoa. So, reader, are you subsidising borderline treachery by having paid for the edition you hold ... <a title="Samoa Observer: Silence tears down a nation" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/10/samoa-observer-silence-tears-down-a-nation/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa Observer: Silence tears down a nation">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 23, 2021
By Lagi Keresoma in Apia Samoa could end going back to the polls should a tie of 26/26 between the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) and the Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party ensue. The caretaker Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, told the media yesterday of the possibility of a united government ... <a title="Samoa could go back to the polls with a hung parliament" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/04/23/samoa-could-go-back-to-the-polls-with-a-hung-parliament/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa could go back to the polls with a hung parliament">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 13, 2019
Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr Sa’ilele Malielegaoi … “a rare glimpse into his fears”. Image: Samoan government By Mata’afa Keni Lesa, editor of the Samoa Observer It’s all happening in Samoa today. For such a small country, there really is no dull moment. With the latest political maneuvering within the ruling Human Rights Protection Party ... <a title="Mata’afa Keni Lesa: Samoan politics and criminal libel – stay tuned" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2019/02/13/mataafa-keni-lesa-samoan-politics-and-criminal-libel-stay-tuned/" aria-label="Read more about Mata’afa Keni Lesa: Samoan politics and criminal libel – stay tuned">Read more</a>