By Staff Writer
The Speaker of Parliament, Toleafoa Fa’afisi, has confirmed the official resignation from Parliament of the Gagaifomauga No.3 MP La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt.
“I met with him in my office on Friday and he officially made his resignation from Parliament,” Speaker Toleafoa confirmed exclusively to Newsline Samoa today.
“The Head of State was duly notified as well as the Prime Minister, Members of Cabinet and all others as legally required for a resigned Member of Parliament.”
The Electoral Commissioner, Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio was also officially informed following the Friday resignation, with a warrant for by-election to be called for the Gagaifomauga No. 3.
Public notice was then served for all voters eligible to vote in the constituency to register for the pending election polls on a date yet to be confirmed.
Public uncertainties were raised after the official notice of the by-election.
The legal status of the MP with his highly publicised ‘verbal resignation’ several weeks ago came into question without a written letter to legally confirm it.
Under the House Standing Orders, members have to officially hand in a formal letter of resignation for their decision to be recognised.
La’auli told the media earlier that he was not returning to Parliament and that he was setting up a new political party, as it was the wish of his Constituency.
He added that his Constituency was writing to officially inform the Speaker of the instructions they have made.
Toleafoa confirmed the letter but it did not have any legal bearing on the Standing Orders of the House.
He did acknowledge and accorded the respect for the expressed view of the constituency regardless of its non-legal status.
La’auli walked out in the middle of a debate after he had verbally resigned rather than continue to face the ordeal of being condemned by members for misleading Parliament.
The House Ethics Committee found him guilty of making false claims and recommended that he either be reprimanded or suspended without pay or allowance.
Since his resignation the MP has been canvassing for new candidates to join a new political party he is currently putting together in the build up to the general elections in 2021.