2025 Samoan general election
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| Constitution |
General elections will be held in Samoa on or before 27 August 2025. The elections were triggered by the government losing a budget vote in parliament on 27 May 2025.[1] By law, elections must be held within 90 days.[2]
Background
[edit]The 2021 Samoan general election and subsequent constitutional crisis saw the Human Rights Protection Party lose power for the first time since 1988. The FAST Party subsequently improved its position in the 2021 Samoan by-elections.[3] Their position was further reinforced with FAST victories in five subsequent by-elections, including three where HRPP MPs had resigned and been re-elected as FAST candidates.
On 3 January 2025, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Laʻauli Leuatea Polataivao was charged with 10 criminal offences, including harassment and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice,[4] over a political smear campaign which attempted to pin an unresolved hit-and-run on a senior politician.[5] Prime Minister Mataʻafa dismissed him from cabinet on 10 January after he refused to resign.[6] The Prime Minister then sacked another three cabinet ministers, citing disloyalty.[7] On 15 January, the party removed Mata’afa as FAST leader and expelled her, along with Deputy Prime Minister Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio and three other cabinet ministers from the party. The party unanimously elected Polataivao as leader on 16 January, while Leota Laki Lamositele became deputy leader.[8] The FAST party subsequently split, with 15 MPs remaining loyal to Mataʻafa and the other 20 joining Laʻauli, and Mataʻafa continued as prime minister in a minority government.[9]
Mataʻafa survived a no-confidence motion on 25 February, which was introduced by the HRPP.[10] She defeated a second no-confidence motion introduced by the FAST party on 6 March.[11]
Laʻauli's trial began on 26 May 2025.[5] On 27 May the government's budget was voted down, by 34 votes to 16, triggering an election within 90 days.[2] Mataʻafa advised the O le Ao o le Malo to dissolve parliament on 28 May, and her government became a caretaker government.[12]
Following the announcement, Attorney-General Suʻa Hellene Wallwork said that the government would seek a court ruling on how to resolve inconsistencies between the Electoral Act, which requires candidates to be nominated and electoral rolls to close 6 months before an election, and the constitutionally-required election timeline.[13] The FAST party also announced it would take legal action challenging the calling of an election rather than a transfer of power.[14]
Electoral system
[edit]The 2025 elections will see 51 members of the Fono elected from single-member constituencies via first-past-the-post voting.[15] Universal suffrage was introduced in 1990, permitting Samoan citizens over the age of 21 to vote in person. Candidates were required to be at least 21 years of age, heads of their families and resident of the country for at least three years prior the nomination date. Civil servants and people with mental illness were ineligible to stand as candidates. People convicted for bribery or an electoral offense, and people given a prison sentence of more than two years (including the death sentence), were also ineligible.[16]
The Constitution Amendment Act 2013 ensures a minimum of 10 per cent or 5 in number of seats in parliament are reserved for women.[15][17]
Schedule
[edit]Parliament will be dissolved on 3 June.[18]
Campaign
[edit]On 30 May Fiame registered the Samoa Uniting Party to contest the election.[19]
References
[edit]- ^ "Samoa to go to early election after Fiame concedes leadership". RNZ. 27 May 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Budget fails, early elections triggered". Samoa Observer. 27 May 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
- ^ Ganasavea Manuia Tafeaga (29 November 2021). "FAST Sweeps By-elections by Four Seats to HRPP's Two". Samoa Global News. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
- ^ Shalveen Chand (9 January 2025). "La'auli charges clarified by police". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
- ^ a b Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (26 May 2025). "Conspiracy trial begins: Top cop reveals details". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
- ^ Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (10 January 2025). "PM Fiame terminates La'auli". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
- ^ Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (14 January 2025). "Three more Cabinet Ministers sacked". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
- ^ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (17 January 2025). "FAST appoints new executives: Laauli is leader and chairman". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
- ^ "What you need to know about Samoa's political crisis". RNZ. 5 February 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
- ^ "Fiame commands majority, vote of no-confidence fails". Samoa Observer. 25 February 2025. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
- ^ "Samoan PM defeats second no-confidence vote in two weeks". RNZ. 6 March 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
- ^ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (28 May 2025). "Head of State accepts PM's advice, cabinet is caretaker government". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
- ^ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (28 May 2025). "Court to clarify election date". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
- ^ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (29 May 2025). "FAST challenges early election". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Samoa to bring about changes to parliament". RNZ. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- ^ "Samoa (Fono) Electoral system". Inter-Parliamentary Union. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ "Constitution Amendment Act 2013" (PDF). International Labour Organization. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ "Parliament to Dissolve 3 June – New Elections in 3 months". Talamua. 29 May 2025. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
- ^ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (30 May 2025). "Fiame led Samoa Uniting Party registered". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
