Samoa’s 18th Parliament to Convene on September 16

Samoa’s newly elected 18th Parliament will convene for its first session on September 16, 2024, at 09:30 AM Samoa Time. Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, the Head of State, made this announcement through a formal proclamation. The opening will take place at the Tuanaimato Multipurpose Complex, marking a significant moment in the country’s political landscape.

The announcement follows a recent general election held on September 6, 2024, during which the official counting of votes spanned four days across 50 electoral constituencies. Preliminary results reveal that the ruling FAST party secured 30 seats, while the HRPP (Human Rights Protection Party) won 14 seats, the SUP (Samoa United Party) obtained three seats, and four independents were elected.

This marks the second term for the FAST party, which first came to power in 2021. At that time, outgoing Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa was still affiliated with FAST. Currently, the party is led by Laauli Leuatea Schmidt, who is positioned to become the next Prime Minister of Samoa.

The electoral process has not been without controversy. Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, leader of the HRPP, announced intentions to file 20 election petitions, indicating potential disputes regarding the election results. All three major political leaders—Fiame Naomi Mataafa of SUP, Tuilaepa of HRPP, and Laauli Leuatea Schmidt of FAST—retained their parliamentary seats.

Fiame’s situation poses a unique challenge, as she will need to decide whether to enter Parliament as an independent or seek affiliation with another political party. This decision is crucial because she has not met the eight-seat threshold required for a political party to participate in the legislative assembly.

The upcoming sitting will formally initiate Samoa’s 18th Legislative Assembly and commence a new five-year parliamentary term. As political dynamics evolve, the leadership and direction taken by the newly elected officials will be closely observed both domestically and internationally.