PM survives motion of no confidence with Opposition support

Apia, Samoa – 6 March 2025 – Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa survived the second motion of no confidence in her leadership in as many weeks. This time, with the support of the Opposition Party in a tense and heated four-hour debate that saw the Prime Minister question the Speakers neutrality, rejection of a motion of confidence in the Speaker and two Cabinet Ministers booted from parliament.

The motion was tabled by the FAST Party Leader Laauli Leuatea Polataivao who highlighted that the majority of the party MPs no longer have confidence in the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

From the start, the Prime Minister questioned the Speaker on parliaments procedures in accepting the motion and she queried parliaments time already spent on amending the motion and her understanding that parliament was to first vote whether to accept the motion or not.

The Speaker ruled to have the motion debated.

FAST Leader said the motion is the result of a split within the party due to internal issues that primarily affect the policies and projects on what had been promised in the party’s 2021 general elections manifesto and that a minority leading the government is unconstitutional.

HRPPs late withdrawal of its amendments on Wednesday night to the FAST motion, gave early signs in todays debate that HRPP support was going to the Prime Minister when motions to extend speaking time for FAST speakers were rejected.

Six FAST MPs spoke on their motion and while what they revealed gave the country a first-hand glimpse into the Prime Minister’s lack of leadership, the impact of their message faded and lost in the many interjections as the debate dragged on.

Opposition Leader, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielagaoi leaving parliament.

Opposition Leader, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielagaoi, said their motion (which was defeated) was to establish the extent of the unity of the FAST Party although he had been vocal in criticizing the government as unconstitutional being a minority one. He also said the FAST motion was not in line with what HRPP wanted to dissolve parliament and go back to elections.

Extension of debate time
While the Speaker clarified that the Standing Orders stipulate one hour for the discussion on a vote of no confidence, the time was extended after the Prime Minister moved to put aside the Standing Orders so parliament can complete the business at hand.

After a delayed morning recess, things heated up when the Speaker requested the Prime Minister to pick selected Ministers to speak on the motion which resulted in more requests from other Ministers and Opposition MPs to speak.

Cabinet Ministers Olo Fiti Vaai & Leatinuu Wayne Sooialo ordered out of parliament.

Two Cabinet Ministers booted out
When the Minister of Works Olo Fiti Vaai took the floor, accusations of the Speakers unfair handling of speaking time and points of order started to be aggressive as voiced by the Minister of Public Enterprises, Leatinuu Wayne Sooialo.

When the Prime Minister joined the debate and accused the Speaker of favouritism, it was when Olo moved a motion of no confidence in the Speaker and seconded by Leatinuu.

An angry Speaker ordered the Minister several times to sit down, then the Deputy Speaker moved to remove the Ministers from parliament.

In ordering the Ministers outside, the Speaker expressed his disappointment in the Cabinet Ministers taking the lead in playing with the Speakers position which he said belongs to the country.

As the last speaker, the Prime Minister revisited the grounds where she questioned the procedure the motion was brought for debate and that the grounds were the same as the previous motion that was also defeated. She also said that the issues were raised were internal party matters.

She also questioned the Speakers neutrality in handling the debate and the motion of no confidence.

Before the vote, the Speaker allowed the two Cabinet ministers he ordered out, back into the house. When the division was called, 32 voted against and 19 voted in support.

Parliament resumes 0930 Friday morning and then go into a two week recess.