THE people of Samoa will go to the polls to elect a new parliament after former members of Fiame Naomi Mata’afa’s FAST party joined with opposition MPs to defeat her government’s budget.
Fiame won a groundbreaking election in 2021, ending four decades of rule by the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) and becoming the first woman head of government in Samoa.
The long-serving politician and high chief struck trouble in January when she demoted minister La’auli Leuatea Schmidt, the FAST party chairman, from cabinet after he was charged with criminal offences.
While ministers and MPs followed La’auli to the crossbench, Fiame’s government’s survived two no-confidence motions earlier this year.
Her government did not manage a third escape act, with La’auli-aligned MPs joining with the Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi-led opposition HRPP to defeat her budget.
The Samoa Observer reports the vote was 16-34, and marks the first time a government budget has failed in 40 years.
The vote is set to trigger an election inside 90 days, which would mean a polling day before late August.
Written by: Ben McKay © Australian Associated Press 2025
