Samoa will go to the polls to vote in a new government on Friday August 29.
This comes amid a backdrop of political instability for the minority government led by Fiame Naomi Mata’afa who has faced two votes of no confidence in the house earlier this year.
Fiame was also removed from the FAST Party by chairman La’auli Leuatea Schmidt as well as several FAST ministers from her Cabinet. This caused a split in the party who were unable to serve out the five year term in government.
Leader of the opposition party HRRP, Tuilaepa Sailelemalielegaoi described the political situation in Samoa to the media as chaotic.
Local media report that Samoa’s Supreme Court this afternoon upheld the three months mandated in the Constitution to conduct a general election following the dissolution of parliament.
Chief Justice Satiu Simativa Perese, Senior Judge Justice Vui Clarence Nelson and Justice Leutele Mata Tuatagaloa delivered the ruling.
The Office of the Electoral Commissioner sought declaratory orders from the Supreme Court to confirm when the country can hold the early general election.
The general election was expected to take place in April 2026, however Parliament was dissolved after opposition parties voted against the minority government’s reading of the 2025/2026 budget in the house.
Samoa’s Head of State declared that Parliament would be dissolved and the 17th Parliamentary term was officially closed on June 3.
The country has just celebrated 63 years of independence.
