Parliament sitting

In a public notice released on Tuesday, the Head of State, Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, said the sitting scheduled for August 22 has now been deferred until 24 October.

The notice said the order is made under Article 52 of the Constitution and Standing Order 170(2)(g)(ii).

RNZ Pacific Samoa correspondent said no further information was given in the notice as to why it has been deferred.

In a brief proclamation issued late on Saturday night, Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II said he was suspending parliament "until such time as to be announced and for reasons that I will make known in due course."

There appeared to be no insight to when that explanation might be, although it appeared to catch many by surprise, even in an election that has had an unprecedented number of historic twists and turns.