Editing Politics of Samoa (section)

===Modern political history===

From independence until the 1970s, Fono debate was conducted in the typical 'consensus' style manner of the [[faamatai]] system in the villages. This meant due deference was usually shown to the Tama-a-Aiga within parliament (the highest ranking chiefs in the nation). Debate usually ended up with the members supporting the then Tama-a-Aiga prime minister or other highly ranked chiefs in the house. Fiame Mataafa Mulinuu II was re-elected as Prime Minister unopposed for most of the period between 1962 and 1975. There were no political parties in these consensus-style parliaments of the 1960s and early 1970s. In the 1970–73 parliament, the first woman speaker of the Fono was chosen – Leaupepe Faima'ala.

However, rising competition and differences in views between MPs in the 1970s led to the establishment of the first political party – the [[Human Rights Protection Party]] (HRPP) in 1979. The 1978 election was the first time a non-Tama-a-Aiga was chosen as Prime Minister. The election of Tupuola Efi to the prime ministership by his supporters was met with staunch opposition from various quarters of the Fono and caused huge controversy at the time because he had defeated a Tama-a-Aiga candidate. The HRPP was set up in part to oppose the then Prime Minister, Tupuola Efi, and also to demand greater rights for farmers. One of the founding members was [[Va'ai Kolone]] – a famous farmer turned politician from the rural Savai'i constituency of [[Vaisigano]]. [[Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi]] eventually became Head of State in 2007 under his Tafaifa title Tui Atua and Tama-a-Aiga titles Tupua Tamasese.

From 1982 to 2021, the majority party in Parliament was the HRPP, save for a short period in 1985 when Va'ai Kolone leading a coalition of parties won the election but had to resign as MPs crossed the floor to the HRPP. Tofilau Eti Alesana regained the Prime Ministership after Vaai resigned. HRPP leader [[Tofilau Eti Alesana]] served as prime minister for nearly all of the period between 1982 and 1998, when he resigned for health reasons. Tofilau Eti was replaced by his deputy, [[Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi]].

Parliamentary elections were held in March 2001. The Human Rights Protection Party, led by [[Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi]], won 23 of the 49 seats in the 13th parliament. The Samoa Democratic United Party, led by Le Mamea Ropati, is the main opposition. Other political parties are the Samoa Party, the Christian Party, and the Samoa Progressive Political Party.

The March 2006 elections were again won by the HRPP by an even larger margin than 2001. The HRPP won 32 seats to the SDUP's 10, with a third major party – the Samoa Party – not gaining any. The majority of independents joined the HRPP to increase the party's majority to 39 seats in the 49 seat parliament.

Internal SDUP infighting led to the party's parliamentary members splitting. Leader Le Mamea Ropati was ousted in a coup led by deputy leader Asiata Dr Saleimoa Vaai, who then assumed leadership of the SDUP. Le Mamea and supporters became independents and thus reduced the SDUP's MPs to only 7. This was not enough to be formally recognised in the Fono as an official opposition party (they needed at least 8 MPs). Therefore, there was no official opposition party recognised in the Samoan parliament.

In 2020, proposed constitutional changes, including the removal of customary land courts from the oversight of the Supreme Court, generated significant opposition.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/samoa-s-constitutional-crisis-undermining-rule-law |title=Samoa’s constitutional crisis: Undermining rule of law |last=Ey |first=Fiona |work=The Interpreter |date=8 May 2020 |access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref> The passage of these laws caused the creation of the [[Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi]] (FAST) party in opposition.<ref name="EveningReport">{{cite news |url=https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/17/despite-a-veneer-of-democracy-samoa-is-sliding-into-autocracy-160701/ |title=Despite a veneer of democracy, Samoa is sliding into autocracy |work=Evening Report |date=17 May 2021 |access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref> The new party gained the support of some prominent political figures,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-14/samoa-hrpp-government-facing-strong-opposition-at-election/13069428 |title=Samoa's Government may be facing the biggest challenge to its rule in 40 years at April's election |author1=Tahlea Aualiitia |author2=Toby Mann |work=ABC News |date=14 February 2021 |access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref> including [[Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa]], who defected from the HRPP to FAST and became its leader. During the [[2021 Samoan general election]], FAST won 25 seats, equal to the number of seats retained by HRPP. The one remaining seat was won by the independent [[Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2021/04/09/cliff-hanger-vote-in-samoa-gives-sole-independent-balance-of-power/1965323 |title=Cliff-hanger vote in Samoa gives sole independent balance of power |work=Malay Mail |date=9 April 2021 |access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref>

These results, which would provide the parliament its first official opposition party in over a decade, were [[2021 Samoan constitutional crisis|immediately disputed]] by the HRPP.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.solomontimes.com/feature/samoas-historic-election-result/588 |title=Samoa’s Historic Election Result |author=Mata’afa Keni Lesa |work=Solomon Times |date=13 April 2021 |access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref> On 20 April the Election Commissioner announced that a 52nd seat had been created and approved by [[O le Ao o le Malo|head of state]] [[Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II]], and given to a member of the HRPP. When the Supreme Court questioned this on 4 May, Sualauvi called a snap election for 21 May, declaring the April results void. However, on 17 May the Supreme Court ruled the 52nd seat unconstitutional.<ref name="EveningReport"/> They also ruled the calling of a new election unconstitutional, and that the April election results would stand.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/442739/samoa-court-dismisses-call-for-second-election |title=Samoa court dismisses call for second election |work=Radio New Zealand |date=17 May 2021 |access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/world/samoa-set-to-appoint-first-female-prime-minister |title=Samoa set to appoint first female prime minister |work=The Straits Times |date=17 May 2021 |access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref>

On 23 July, the Court of Appeal ruled that the FAST party had been the legitimate government since 24 May, confirming Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa as the rightful Prime Minister from that date, thus resolving the constitutional crisis.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jackson |first=Lagipoiva Cherelle |last2=Lyons |first2=Kate |date=2021-07-23 |title=Samoa’s political crisis ends and first female prime minister installed after court ruling |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/23/samoas-political-crisis-ends-and-first-female-prime-minister-installed-after-court-ruling |access-date=2025-04-28 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

In August 2022, [[Legislative Assembly of Samoa|Samoa's Legislative Assembly]] reappointed [[Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II|Tuimaleali’ifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II]] as the Head of State for a second term of five years.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ligaiula |first1=Pita |title=Tuimalealiifano reappointed as Samoa Head of State {{!}} PINA |url=https://pina.com.fj/2022/08/23/tuimalealiifano-reappointed-as-samoa-head-of-state/}}</ref>