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 faʻamatai chiefly system of socio-political governance and organisation, central to understanding Samoa's political system.
Malietoa Tanumafili II was a Samoan paramount chief who was O le Ao o le Malo of Samoa from its independence in 1962 until his death in 2007. He was appointed to the high title of Malietoa in 1940.
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.
Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole was a Western Samoan paramount chief. He held the royal title of Tupua Tamasese from 1929 to 1963, and O le Ao o le Malo jointly with Malietoa Tanumafili II from 1962 until his death the following year.
Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Tufuga Efi is a Samoan political leader and paramount chief, as holder of the maximal lineage Tupua Tamasese title. He also holds the royal pāpā title of Tui Ātua.
Tupua Tamasese, formally known as Tupua, is a state dynasty and one of the four paramount chiefly titles of Samoa, known as the tama a ʻāiga. It is the titular head of one of Samoa's two great royal families – Sā Tupua, the lineage of Queen Salamasina. The current holder of the title is Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi.
Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili I was the Malietoa in Samoa from 1898 until his death in 1939. After the death of his father, Malietoa Laupepa, who was recognized as king of Samoa by many Western countries, Tanumafili was immediately crowned, with Tupua Tamasese Lealofi I serving as vice-king. Tanumafili was backed by the United States and United Kingdom, however Germany supported rebel chief Mata‘afa Iosefo who was eyeing the throne. The battle between the two made up the Second Samoan Civil War and in the end caused the Tripartite Convention that split the islands. After the war, Malietoa pursued education in Fiji and then came back to Samoa, where he was appointed as an advisor.
Mālietoa is a state dynasty and one of the four paramount chiefly titles of Samoa. It is the titular head of one of the two great royal families of Samoa: Sā Malietoa. Literally translated as "great warrior", the title's origin comes from the final words of the Tongan warriors as they were fleeing on the beach to their boats, "Malie To`a, Malo e tau...".
An indirect election was held in Samoa to elect the O le Ao o le Malo on 16 June 2007 after the death of the country's head of state for four and a half decades, Malietoa Tanumafili II, in May 2007. Former Prime Minister Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi was elected unopposed by the 49-member strong parliament. This election was the first to occur for an O le Ao o le Malo since Samoa gained independence in 1962.
The Samoan Order of Merit is an order recognizing distinguished service in science, art, literature, or religion. Per the Honours and Awards Act 1999, admission into the organization is granted by the O le Ao o le Malo, presently Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II, and is limited to 15 living individuals from Samoa, plus an unspecified number of foreigners. All members receive the ability to use the post-nominal letters OM and a medallion to wear, and in the Samoan order of precedence fall between Companions and Officers of the Order of Samoa.
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.
Indirect elections for the o le Ao o le Malo were held in Apia on 19 July 2012. Incumbent Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi was the only candidate, and was re-elected unopposed. He had been nominated by Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi and seconded by Palusalue Fa’apo II, the leader of the opposition.
Tuimalealiʻifano is one of the four paramount chiefly titles of Samoa, known as the tama a ʻāiga. Samoa's other three paramount chiefs are Malietoa, Mataʻafa and Tupua Tamasese. The seat of the Tuimalealiʻifano title is at Falelatai in the Aʻana district.
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.
Afioga Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Eti Sualauvi II is a Samoan politician who is the current O le Ao o le Malo of Samoa, in office since 2017.
General elections were held in Western Samoa on 15 November 1957.
Constitutional Assembly elections were held in Western Samoa on 23 July 1960.
The Council of Deputies is a constitutional body in Samoa. Its members serve as Deputy O le Ao o le Malo and act as head of state when the office of O le Ao o le Malo is vacant or when the incumbent is unable to fulfill their duties due to absence or incapacitation.
Malietoa Tanumafili II, the O le Ao o le Malo of Samoa and paramount chief of the Malietoa lineage, died on 11 May 2007 in Apia at the age of 94. At the time of his death, he was the oldest incumbent state leader and head of state for over 45 years, having been appointed for life to the post when Samoa gained independence in 1962. His state funeral was held on 18 May and was attended by a significant amount of domestic and regional dignitaries.
Tamaʻāiga is a Samoan term used to refer to the four high chiefly titles in the faʻamatai system – specifically, the Malietoa, Mataʻafa, Tupua Tamasese and Tuimalealiʻifano.
