Political career
Schuster was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Samoa at the 2011 Samoan general election,as a candidate for Tautua. [4] He lost his seat at the 2016 election. [9]
In July 2020 Schuster criticised new electoral laws limiting candidate eligibility as unfair and discriminatory. [10] In October 2020 Schuster announced he would stand as a candidate for the F.A.S.T. Party in the 2021 election. [2] He was elected in the Vaimauga no. 4 constituency. [11] On 24 May 2021 he was appointed Minister of Police and Prisons in the elected cabinet of FiamēNaomi Mataʻafa. [12] The appointment was disputed by the caretaker government. On 23 July 2021 the Court of Appeal ruled that the swearing-in ceremony was constitutional and binding,and that FAST had been the government since 24 May. [13]
In his role as Minister in charge of the Electoral Commission Schuster advocated for electoral reform,including the repeal of "arbitrary" restrictions on candidacy and on MPs changing parties. [14] As Police Minister he was critical of the impact of the Land and Titles Bill,claiming that it had led to village councils abusing their authority to violate human rights. [15]
On 15 January 2025 Schuster,Prime Minister Mataʻafa,and four other cabinet ministers were expelled from FAST,following a power struggle between Mataʻafa and party chairman Laʻauli Leuatea Polataivao. [16] [17] Schuster and the other expelled members rejected their expulsion,denounced it as unconstitutional,and claimed they were still members of FAST. Schuster argued they could only depart from the party if they were to leave voluntarily or if a court upheld their expulsion. [18]
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