Speaker orders Opposition Leader out of Parliament for swearing

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, SAMOA – 16 December 2025: The Opposition Leader, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has been suspended from Parliament for 24 hours for what the Speaker described as uttering a swear word against the Prime Minister.

According to the Speaker, Auapaau Mulipola Aloitafua Mulipola the Opposition Leader uttered a swear word when Parliament went on this morning’s recess and witnessed by several Cabinet Ministers, other Members of Parliament and staff of the Legislative Assembly.

It was not clear exactly what Tuilaepa said but the Speaker noted his disappointment when parliament resumed and encouraged the Members to maintain respectable language in the chambers.

Before Parliament went into the morning recess, the Prime Minister issued a Ministerial which in the end, he referred to potentially defamatory and treasonous statements made against the Government since it took office and sworn in 16 September.

The Prime Minister named the Leader of the Opposition, Tuilaepa as one of the people leading a campaign on social media against the government. The Prime Minister said that the Attorney General has been instructed to look into potentially treasonous statements made that may assume the stability of the government and country.

After the Ministerial statement, the Deputy Prime Minister Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo moved for the statement to be tabled in parliament and passed.

Tuilaepa however moved an amendment for the statement to be tabled and discussed in the current session. However, his amendment was not seconded and not put to a question.

Tuilaepa however is heard saying that the PM’s accusations are directed against him. He also said that if he is not heard in parliament, he will seek other options outside.

Tuilaepa exiting parliament.

In issuing his order for Tuilaepa to leave the House, the Speaker referred to a previous incident where another senior Opposition MP was suspended for the same reason.

Tuilaepa is expected to be back in the House after tomorrow mornings break.

In its final sitting for the year, Parliament is debating the removal of the Tax Exemption for International Companies Amendment Bill to have Samoa removed from the European Union’s black list since 2017 due to the 31,000 international companies registered under the Samoa International Finance Authority’s offshore portfolio.