By Staff Writer
Parliament will name a new Head of State when it is called to session in just over a week on the 23 of August 2022.
The Head of State, currently in office, His Highness Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II, is to be officially installed this week as the University of the South Pacific new Chancellor, at the Samoa Campus graduation on Friday 12 August 2022.
The awkward moment for Government is when Parliament appoints a new Head of State other than the incumbent after only a few days of his official installment.
His Highness has served only one 5 year term that is about to run out and is eligible, subject to the approval of Parliament, for a second and final term under the Constitution.
His Highness Tuimaleali’ifano is only the second after Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, to be appointed Head of State under the 5 year renewable terms of the Constitution.
Tui Atua stayed on for the maximum two full terms.
The Samoa Campus of the University is taking a ‘we will cross that bridge’ stance when asked by Newsline Samoa for a reaction to the delicate political background of the Chancellor installment.
The University is following the official alphabetic process of every member country taking 12 months turn as Chancellor and it is Samoa’s turn that officially started last July.
Government is yet to comment officially on what could develop into a highly sensitive issue that they would or should be aware of already.
His Highness was not very popular with the new Government during the turbulent aftermath of the 2021 general elections.