Political standoff

Law Council of Australia voices concern about Samoa’s political stand-off

It has been nine weeks since voters went to the polls and the two leadership contenders, the long-time PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and his former deputy-turned-rival, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, both still claim to be the legitimate prime minister.

There have been several cases and appeals before the Supreme Court, where the decisions have generally backed the position of Fiame's FAST Party, prompting Tuilaepa to accuse the judges of "conspiring" with his opponents.

Call for more Samoa women in village politics as national political standoff continues

Samoa has done more than most Pacific nations to encourage greater political representation of women with its constitutional quota requiring 10 per cent of MPs to be female.

But there's a call for more to be done at the village level where many communities still will not allow woman to sit on local councils even if they have a matai, or chiefly, title.