Last Monday, members of the Human Rights Protection Party Caucus made a collective decision to withdraw from any further Parliamentary Committee meetings, on the belief that the current government under the leadership of Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa is unconstitutional.
This decision was necessary to uphold the Constitution of Samoa, as the government is now in the minority with just 15 members in the House who have broken away from the main Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi Party leadership.
The main FAST faction, led by La’auli Leuatea Schmidt, now commands 20 seats including the Speaker.
Meanwhile, the HRPP holds 18 seats.
The Constitution of Samoa clearly states that the Prime Minister must be elected from among the Members of Parliament who command the confidence of the majority.
Considering the current parliamentary composition, it is evident that the Honourable Fiame no longer commands this majority, and thus her leadership is no longer constitutionally valid.
Recent parliamentary sessions have highlighted the deepening divisions within the government.
La’auli’s group made a public display of solidarity, first wearing red coats and later changing into their white attire.
In stark contrast, Fiame’s faction, including Cabinet Ministers, chose to wear black.
The Speaker allowed this public display of division to escalate by setting aside the established parliamentary practice of wearing black on Thursdays so that La’auli’s side could continue their symbolic protest.
This action disregards parliamentary protocols that are meant to govern the conduct of Parliament.
In addition, the Speaker, in an unprecedented move, allowed many of the FAST MPs to sit behind the Opposition party, further breaching established seating protocols and undermining the stability of parliamentary procedure.
The discord in the FAST Party has been years in the making.
As Prime Minister, Fiame turned a blind eye to the many unethical and illegal actions of the FAST cabinet members.
She only took a stand when their illegal demands threatened her Prime Ministership.
As she and the FAST Party continue their infighting and fashion parade, the people of Samoa grapple with significant real-life challenges: high cost of living, crime and deteriorating essential services infrastructure.
The government that the people of Samoa elected has failed to honor their commitments to serve the nation with integrity.
It is time for new elections, and to return the decision-making power to the people.
The people must decide who will truly represent their interests in Parliament and lead their government.
In 2021, Fiame used the decision of the courts and Constitution of Samoa to loudly demand that the HRPP government step down.
Will she and her government now do the honourable thing under that very same constitution?
The nation awaits.
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi
Leader of HRPP