Samoa smoothly ushers in new government in major powershift

By Lance Polu/

Apia, Samoa – 16 September 2025 – After a nine-month political uncertainty that forced a minority government out, the dissolution of parliament and an early election, Samoa today smoothly ushered in a new government.

Led by charismatic and homegrown politician, the 59-year-old gifted orator and exceptional organiser, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi, was sworn in as the country’s 8^th Prime Minister since independence in 1962.

He founded the FAST Party that ended HRPP’s 40-year reign in the 2021 general elections. However, internal tensions and power schemes led to the party split in January 2025 and the ensuing eight-month political turbulences that ended with the dissolution of Parliament in May 2025 and the call for an early election at the end of last month.

Laaulialemalietoa led the FAST Party to a decisive victory in the 29 August 2025 general elections, winning 31 seats to the Oppositions 14 and 6 independents.

In announcing his Cabinet, he appointed two Deputy Prime Ministers who will each take turns serving two and a half years of the five-year term.

They are Toelupe Maoiautele Poumulinuku who is the Minister of Works and Infrastructure and the FAST Party’s original Minster of Finance, Mulipola Ale Molioo who returns to the portfolio in the new cabinet announced today. Both were terminated under the previous FAST Government, when they lost confidence in Fiame Naomi as Prime Minister.

The new Prime Minister leads a Cabinet mixing the old and young MPs, and represent a major power shift in Samoan politics, with a new generation of politicians coming through.

The youngest of the Cabinet Ministers, 41-year-old Maaefaauouo Julius Ah Kui Tafunai, has been given a major portfolio to be in-charge of the FAST Governments major social development initiative, the $2M District Development Project, under the Ministry of Women and Social Development.

A unexpected choice is that of the respected physician an academic Aiono Dr Alec Ekeroma, who has been appointed the Minister of Education and Culture. He is a former Vice Chancellor and President of the National University of Samoa and recently resigned as Director General of Health to successfully run for parliament.

The new FAST Cabinet and their portfolios as announced this morning.