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| Constitution |
General elections were held in Western Samoa on 24 February 1973. All candidates ran as independents and voting was restricted to matai and citizens of European origin ("individual voters"), with the matai electing 45 MPs and Europeans two. [1] Following the election, Fiame Mata'afa became Prime Minister for a second term, having previously held the office between 1959 and 1970.
Prior to the elections, candidates were decided upon at meetings of chiefs. If there was unanimity, only one candidate would be put forward; if there were disagreements, multiple candidates would be nominated. [2] A total of 160 candidates contested the elections, with twelve seats having only one candidate (seven of whom were incumbents), [3] who were returned unopposed. [2] Former Prime Minister Mata'afa, who held one of the four highest chiefly titles, was challenged by Aupito Tulaniu, an opponent of the domination of Samoan society by chiefs. His candidacy was regarded by several chiefs as the 'work of the devil'. [2]
The incumbent government led by Tupua Tamasese had become increasingly unpopular since taking office following the 1970 elections. An increase in import duties led to rising food costs and car prices, whilst cabinet infighting and perceived lack of work ethic of some ministers had also been issues. [4]
The Samoa Times reported that the election campaign saw candidates giving away food and money. [2]
Twenty-eight of the forty-seven members were new to the Legislative Assembly, with only eleven incumbent MLAs in contested seats being re-elected. [2] Minister of Education Tuala Paulo, Minister of Finance Tofa Siaosi, Minister of Justice Amoa Tausilia, Minister for the Post Office Fuimaono Moasope and the Speaker Magele Ate were all defeated. [3]
In Gaga'ifomauga No. 1 the result was a tie between Tiapili Filisi and Timu Kolio. The outcome was decided by drawing lots, with Tiapili declared the winner. [2]
Voting in Satupa'itea constituency was delayed until May due to the death of Asiata Lagolago, one of the candidates. [3]
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independents | 7,241 | 100.00 | 47 | |
| Total | 7,241 | 100.00 | 47 | |
| Valid votes | 7,241 | 99.12 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 64 | 0.88 | ||
| Total ballots cast | – | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 10,075 | – | ||
| Source: Nohlen et al. | ||||
Following the elections, the victory of Mapuilesua Malo in Palauli-le-Falefa was challenged by losing candidate Le Tagaloa Pita, who alleged that ten matai should not have been able to vote in the constituency. A recount was ordered by Chief Justice Gaven Donne, with Pita subsequently declared the winner. [2]
Toleafoa Talitimu was elected Speaker with 28 votes, defeating Leaupepe Faimaala (12) and Teo Fetu (6). Fetu subsequently defeated Faimaala in the Deputy Speaker election by a margin of 27 votes to 18. [3] Three candidates stood to be Prime Minister; incumbent Tupua Tamasese, former Prime Minister Fiame Mata'afa and Tufuga Efi. In the first round of voting, Mata'afa won with 23 votes; Efi received 13 and Tamasese 9. Mata'afa subsequently appointed a new cabinet. [2] [4]
| Position | Minister |
|---|---|
| Prime Minister | Fiame Mata'afa |
| Minister for Agriculture | Muagututi'a Pinati |
| Minister for Education | Alfonso Philipp |
| Minister for Finance | Sam Saili |
| Minister for Health | Seiuli Taulafo |
| Minister of Justice | Tupua Tamasese |
| Minister of Lands | Lesatele Rapi |
| Minister for the Post Office and Radio | Tapua'i Ene |
| Minister for Works and Marine | Laumea Matolu II |
Mata'afa died in May 1975, after which Tupua Tamasese was appointed as his replacement, also appointing a new cabinet. However, later in 1975 he sacked both Pinati and Saili. [5] Minister for Works Aumua Ioane became the new Finance Minister, while Vaovasamanaia Filipo was appointed as the new Minister for Agriculture, [5] and Tofaeono Tile as Minister for Works to replace Ioane.
| Position | Minister |
|---|---|
| Prime Minister | Tupua Tamasese |
| Minister for Agriculture | Muagututia Pinati |
| Minister for Education | Alfonso Philipp |
| Minister for Finance | Sam Saili |
| Minister for Health | Seiuli Taulafo |
| Minister of Justice | Lilomaiava Niko |
| Minister for the Post Office and Radio | Fepuleai Samuelu |
| Minister for Works and Marine | Aumua Ioane |
Politics of Samoa takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic state whereby the Prime Minister of Samoa is the head of government. Existing alongside the country's Western-styled political system is the fa'amatai chiefly system of socio-political governance and organisation, central to understanding Samoa's political system.
AfiogaFiamē Naomi Mataʻafa is a Samoan politician and High Chiefess (matai) who has served as the seventh Prime Minister of Samoa and leader of the Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party since 2021.
Fiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II was a Western Samoan paramount chief and politician. The holder of the Mataʻafa title, one of the four main Samoan chieftainships, he became the first prime minister of Western Samoa in 1959, serving until 1970. He held the position again from 1973 until his death in 1975.
Samoa is made up of eleven itūmālō. These are the traditional eleven districts that were established well before European arrival. Each district has its own constitutional foundation (faavae) based on the traditional order of title precedence found in each district's faalupega.
Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Tufuga Efi is a Samoan political leader and as holder of the maximal lineage Tama-a-'āiga title of Tupua Tamasese, is one of the four paramount chiefs of Samoa. He also holds the royal pāpā title of Tui Atua.
Fa'amatai is the indigenous political ('chiefly') system of Samoa, central to the organization of Samoan society. It is the traditional indigenous form of governance in both Samoas, comprising American Samoa and the Independent State of Samoa. The term comprises the prefix fa'a and the word matai.
Matāʻafa is one of the four paramount tama-a-ʻaiga titles of Samoa. It is one of two such titles originating from the Atua district at the east end of Upolu island and has its historical seat in the village of Amaile. Prominent holders of the title include Matā'afa Iosefo of Falefa, one of the three rival candidates for the kingship of Samoa during the early colonial period, Matāʻafa Faumuina Fiame Mulinuʻu I of Lepea and Lotofaga, who became leader of Samoa's pro-independence Mau movement after Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III's assassination; and his son Fiame Matāʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II (1921–1975), the first Prime Minister of Samoa.
Lepea is a village on the island of Upolu in Samoa. The picturesque settlement of round Samoan houses built in a concentric pattern in large open grounds (malae) is situated 5mins drive west of the capital Apia on the north central coast of the island. It is part of the Tuamasaga electoral district.
General elections were held in Western Samoa on 4 April 1964, the first since independence in 1962. All candidates ran as independents. Following the elections, Fiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II remained Prime Minister.
General elections were held in Western Samoa on 25 February 1967. All candidates ran as independents and voting was restricted to Matai and citizens of European origin, with the Matai electing 45 MPs and Europeans two. Following the election, Fiame Mata'afa Faumuina Mulinu'u II remained Prime Minister.
General elections were held in Western Samoa on 7 February 1970. All candidates ran as independents, with voting restricted to matais and citizens of European origin, with the matais electing 45 MPs and Europeans two. Following the election, Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV became Prime Minister.
General elections were held in Western Samoa on 21 February 1976. All candidates ran as independents and voting was restricted to Matai and citizens of European origin, with the Matai electing 45 MPs and Europeans two. Following the election, Tupuola Efi became Prime Minister.
Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV was the second prime minister of Samoa from 25 February 1970 to 20 March 1973 and again from 21 May 1975 to 24 March 1976. He held the title of Tupua Tamasese, one of the four main chiefly titles of Samoa from 1965 until his death in 1983.
General elections were held in Western Samoa on 15 November 1957.
Afioga Lesatele Rapi was a Western Samoan chief and politician. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly and served in the cabinet three times between 1967 and his death.
To'omata Lilomaiava Tua was a Western Samoan chief and politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly from 1951 and as Minister of Lands from 1959, holding both roles until his death in 1970.
Gustav Frederick Dertag Betham, also known by the Samoan name Fereti Misipita, was a Western Samoan politician and diplomat. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly from 1948 to 1971 and as Minister of Finance from 1961 to 1970. In 1971 he was appointed Secretary General of the South Pacific Commission, a role he held for four years.
Leota Leuluaiali'i Ituau Ale was a Samoan politician. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly in three spells from 1970 to 1996 and served as Speaker from 1976 to 1979.
Vaovasamanaia Reginald Filipo was a Samoan politician, Cabinet Minister, and Judge. He was the first Samoan appointed Chief Justice of Samoa.
The deputy prime minister of the Independent State of Samoa is the deputy head of government of Samoa. The deputy prime minister is a member of the Legislative Assembly and cabinet, and is appointed by the O le Ao o le Malo on the advice of the prime minister. The incumbent, Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio of the Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party, has served since 2021. His role was disputed from 24 May to 23 July due to the 2021 constitutional crisis, which was resolved when the Samoan Court of Appeal ruled that the FAST government was legitimate.
