Samoa dives into further uncertainty as Head of State suspends Monday’s opening of Parliament

The Head of State when he announced fresh elections.

APIA, SAMOA – 22 MAY 2021: Samoa’s Head of State, Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aleto’a Sualauvi II has suspended the opening of Parliament he called to convene in another writ last Friday afternoon.

In a writ just distributed by the Press Secretariat after 9.00 tonight, the Head of State suspended his proclamation for the official opening of the XVIIth Parliament dated 20 May 2021 “until such time as to be announced and for reasons that he will make known in due course.”

The announcement confirms reports that had been circulating this afternoon that Parliament my not convene as proclaimed.

The latest twist casts further uncertainty on Samoa’s political progress following the 9 April 2021 general elections and the legal challenges by the FAST Party that were cleared of a 26-25 seat majority after the Court of Appeal dismissed a motion to stay of execution last Friday afternoon.

Monday’s suspended meeting could have installed a FAST government and ending HRPPs 38 year rule.

In a Minute of the Court yesterday, the Chief Justice, His Honour Satiu Simativa Perese told the Attorney General, “Although it appears plain that the Attorney General does not accept the authority of the Supreme Court, we emphasise that the Supreme Court has ruled on the Art 44 issue, a stay was sought but dismissed and the Office of the Electoral Commissioner should be under no illusion but that the ruling of the Supreme Court represents the law in Samoa, and it should be followed. Failure to abide by the law has its own consequences.”

Head Of State’s Proclamation