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Samoa Parliament to reconvene Wednesday as cabinet moves into offices

Samoa parliament building
compiled by Samoa News staff

Apia, SAMOA — Samoa’s new Prime Minister, Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa has announced that Parliament will reconvene as early Wednesday after Cabinet Ministers moved into their offices on Tuesday (Samoa time).

Samoa's newly appointed Speaker of Parliament, Papali'i Li'o Ta'eu-Masipau was officially welcomed Tuesday afternoon receiving the keys to parliament.

After a political impasse of over three months since Samoa's election, the Court of Appeal on Friday ruled in favor of the FAST government's validity.

The court found that the FAST administration's ad hoc swearing-in ceremony in late May complied with Samoa's constitution and was legitimate.

Fiame said the three-month political impasse had cost her government a lot of time but they have been working hard behind the scenes, with the new administration's priority now being work on the national budget.

However the new prime minister said the stand-off also presented an opportunity for a review of the constitution.

"We have to restore the foundation of the rule of law, for the government it's a very important thing. And I think this long process has demonstrated where it could go wrong, and did go wrong. And thankfully the courts were able to correct those."

Work has been underway to prepare members of the new administration for the work of government.

"A lot of our members are new, but that is the nature of democratic government - the people vote in (new) representatives from time to time, and that's the circle who come in when there is a change of government."

Fiame said her team had also been meeting with government department chief executives.

"We had (previously) approached key ministries in terms of our new expectations from CEOs, and preparing briefs for the incoming government. They weren't very responsive.

"I would presume that now the issue has been settled — about the validity of our government — that they will come on board with respect to what they need to do for the new incoming government."

Meanwhile, Samoa's outgoing prime minister has wished the country's new government well in a farewell speech.

Tuilaepa Sailelele Malielegaoi addressed the nation after being Samoa's prime minister for over two decades.

He wished Fiame and her FAST party a prosperous term in leadership, saying his HRPP party would support the new government and work with it in good spirit.

He said the HRPP remained steadfast in serving Samoa through its elected members.

(Sources: RNZ Pacific, Talamua Online, Samoa Observer)