The political turmoil within Samoa’s ruling Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) Party escalated, on Wednesday, as its Chairman, Laauli Leuatea Schmidt, announced the removal of Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa and five Cabinet Ministers from the party.
Newsline Samoa Online reports Laauli announced on his Facebook page that a caucus meeting held earlier in the day, with 20 Members of Parliament in attendance, met the required quorum to execute the decision to oust Fiame and Ministers from the Party.
He did not say what fate awaits the other members of the Fiame faction, including the four new ministers sworn in the day before.
The five removed Cabinet Ministers include, Deputy Prime Minister, Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio; Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, Olo Fiti Vaai; Minister of Public Enterprises, Leatinuu Wayne Fong; Minister of Police and Prisons, Faualo Harry Schuster; and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster.
The timing of the FAST party removals, with Parliament scheduled to reconvene on January 21, 2025, adds fuel to the already charged political landscape.
The country now waits with interest what will transpire, with some asking if the mooted vote of no confidence in Fiame will get through, or if Parliament will be dissolved prompting an early general election.
Photo: Samoa Observer
