FAST Party gives PM ultimatum to resign before the end of this session

Apia, Samoa – 25 February 2025 – Leader of the FAST Party, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao has given Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa an ultimatum to step down before the end of the current parliament session given that the party no longer has confidence in her leadership.

Speaking at the debate of the vote of no-confidence proposed by the Opposition Leader in parliament today, Laauli directly told Fiame that her leadership has caused the current division with the party as she listened and took advise from outside.

Speaking on the no-confidence motion, Laauli asked Tuilaepa to postpone his motion to give time to Fiame to resign while parliament focus on the critical issues now before parliament and the  country waiting with a lot of expectations.

He said these issues include the need to pass the Lands and Titles Act 2019 which is needed to establish and interim Appeal Court to handle 100 backlog cases, the amendments to the Electoral Act, the constitutional amendment and the 3 controversial bills passed by the HRPP government in December 2020.

However, Tuilaepa rejected Laauli’s request and pushed for his motion that was decisively defeated by 34 votes to 14.

Laauli argued that passing a vote of no confidence would be counter-productive to the country that is waiting for the promises made in the 2021 general election to be delivered.

The FAST Party strategically moved not to support the Opposition motion. He said that the FAST party has the numbers to form a new government if Fiame resigns as there are able leaders in the party to continue until the end of the current five-year term.

More importantly, the numbers needed to pass the legislations now before the House, especially the constitutional amendment that will require a two-thirds majority that is expected to be passed this week.

Heads bowed as the Deputy Speaker, Auapaau Mulipola Aloitafua says a prayer before parliament rose at 1.00 this afternoon.

FAST Party confidence motion against Fiame
Whether Fiame will heed the ultimatum to step down as Prime Minister is another matter. Without directly addressing the ultimatum, Fiame said none of the groupings in parliament have the majority with 15 supporting her, 18 Opposition MPs and 20 with the FAST Party led by Laauli.

In mid January, the FAST Party terminated Fiame and five other senior cabinet ministers from the party referring to their collective and or individual roles in causing the current division within the party.

One of the sacked Ministers, Olo Fiti Vaai told parliament today that he was still a FAST member.

While the FAST Party no longer count the terminated six Cabinet Ministers as members, the party still considers the other nine Cabinet Ministers who have signed agreements with the party are legal members of the Party.

Fiame stayed on her established stance that she will advise the Head of State to dissolve parliament should she be defeated in a vote of no confidence.

The FAST Party has already informed the Speaker, the Head of State, the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader that they have the support of 29 MPs that is the majority of parliament to form a new government should the Prime Minister resign or voted out on a confidence motion.