SusugaTuila'epa Lupesoliai Neioti Aiono Sa'ilele Malielegaoi is a Samoan politician and economist who served as the sixth prime minister of Samoa from 1998 to 2021. Tuila’epa is Samoa's longest serving prime minister and is currently the Leader of the Opposition. Since 1998,he has led the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP). Tuila'epa first entered parliament in 1981 when he won a by-election to represent the electorate of Lepā. He also served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in the government of Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana,and also held the portfolios of Tourism and Trade,Commerce &Industry.
Misa Telefoni Retzlaff is a Samoan author and retired politician who served as the deputy prime minister of Samoa and deputy leader of the Human Rights Protection Party from 2001 to 2011. A member of the Human Rights Protection Party,Retzlaff was also minister of finance from 2006 to 2011.
Matatumua Maimoana (1935–2012),also known as Matatumua Maimoaga Vermeulen,was a matai,politician,Nurse and Environmentalist of Samoa. Her chief title,Matatumua,was an orator's title from the village of Faleasiu. She was a former member of parliament in Samoa and the founder of the Samoa All People's Party (SAPP),becoming the first woman to lead a political party in the country. SAPP allowed people as young as 16,regardless of gender or whether they were matai to be officers in the organisation which included village branches. She was a founding member of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP),which has dominated Samoan politics in the last two decades.
Luagalau Levaula Kamu was a Samoan lawyer and Cabinet Minister. His 1999 assassination was the first political assassination in Samoa since independence in 1962.
Savea Sano MalifaOM is a Samoan poet,journalist,newspaper editor,and publisher. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of the Samoa Observer,the main newspaper in Samoa. He is the author of the novel Alms for Oblivion. The Pacific Islands News Association awarded him the Pacific Freedom of Information award for defending the right of the Samoan people to freedom of information and expression. In 1998,he received the Commonwealth Press Union's Astor Award and Index on Censorship's Press Freedom Award.
The prime minister of the Independent State of Samoa is the head of government of Samoa. The prime minister is a member of the Legislative Assembly,and is appointed by the O le Ao o le Malo for a five-year term. Since independence in 1962,a total of seven individuals have served as prime minister. The incumbent was disputed due to the 2021 constitutional crisis,when Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi refused to accept the results of the 2021 general election. On 23 July 2021,the Samoan Court of Appeal ruled that the Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party had been in government since 24 May. Tuila'epa then conceded defeat,resulting in FAST party leader FiamēNaomi Mataʻafa becoming prime minister.
Gatoloaifaana Amataga Alesana-Gidlow is a Samoan politician and former Cabinet Minister. She is a member of the Human Rights Protection Party.
Tuiloma Pule Alaimoana Unasa Lameko Gae’e was a Samoan politician and Cabinet Minister. He was a member of the Human Rights Protection Party.
Vaʻai Kolone was the fourth prime minister of Samoa and a founder of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) in Samoa. He served as Prime Minister twice,first between 13 April and 18 September 1982,and then from 30 December 1985 until 8 April 1988.
The Christian Democratic Party (CDP) was a political party in Samoa. The party was founded in February 1985 by the supporters of former Prime Minister Tupuola Taisi Tufuga Efi. At the 1985 election the party won only 15 of 47 seats,but was able to form a coalition government in December 1985 after 11 Human Rights Protection Party MPs crossed the floor to vote against the budget of then-Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana. Va'ai Kolone became Prime Minister. While apparently retaining a majority after the 1988 election,the party lost power after the defection of Tanuvasa Livigisitone to the HRPP.
General elections were held in Samoa on 2 March 2001 to determine the composition of the 13th Parliament. Prime minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi led the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) into the election. Opposition leader and former prime minister and future head of state,Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi led the Samoan National Development Party (SNDP) into the election. The HRPP won 23 seats,but initially fell short of a majority. The SNDP won 13 seats,the Samoan United People's Party secured one seat and the remaining 12 were won by independents. Following the election,all 12 independents joined the HRPP,giving the party a majority in parliament and allowing Tuila'epa to remain prime minister.
Tuiletufuga Le Mamea Ropati Mualia is a Samoan politician,and member of the Council of Deputies. Over his career he has served as a Cabinet Minister,Leader of the Opposition and represented the constituency for Lefaga &Falese'ela for over thirty years. He was a founding member of the Human Rights Protection Party.
General elections were held in Western Samoa on 22 February 1985. Voting was restricted to matai and citizens of European origin,with the Matai electing 45 MPs and Europeans two. The result was a victory for the Human Rights Protection Party,which won 31 seats. Its leader,Tofilau Eti Alesana,remained Prime Minister.
General elections were held in Western Samoa on 27 February 1982. The Human Rights Protection Party won 22 of the 47 seats in the Legislative Assembly and was able to form a government after three independents voted for its leader,Va'ai Kolone,in the vote for Prime Minister.
Va'aelua Eti Alesana was a Samoan politician and opposition leader who served as a founding member and President of the Tautua Samoa Party in 2011.
Taulapapa Brenda Heather-Latu is a New Zealand-born Samoan lawyer and a former Attorney-General of Samoa. She was the first woman to serve as attorney general,and the first New Zealand-born Samoan to head a Government department in Apia. She is married to former dual international rugby player and lawyer George Latu.
Seumanu Aita Ah Wa was a Samoan politician and former Cabinet Minister. He was a member of the Human Rights Protection Party.
Tuala Tagaloa Sale Kerslake is a Samoan judge,politician and former Cabinet Minister. From 2004 —2016 he was President of the Land and Titles Court of Samoa. He is a member of the Human Rights Protection Party.
Maiava Iulai Toma is a Samoan diplomat and civil servant. He served as Samoa's Ombudsman from 1994 —2020.
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.
