“What will happen will happen” – Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, caretaker Prime Minister
All eyes are set on Samoa ahead of its snap election.
From the moment you arrive at Faleolo airport and drive towards Apia in Samoa, the signs and billboards of political candidates from various parties can be seen almost everywhere.
There are mainly three colours which stand out – green (SUP Party), red (FAST Party) and blue (HRPP Party) – the three main parties battling it out for Samoa’s government.
It’s been quite a turn-around for Samoa in regards to its political landscape. In 2021, the swearing in of Fiame Naomi Mataafa as Prime Minister and leader of the FAST Party was a historic moment.
The first ever female leader for Samoa, and for the first time in many decades, a new government to end the 39-year rule of HRPP and its leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.
Yet only a few years later, that historic run has been cut short, with Samoans again heading to the polls in a snap election, with more than half a year left in the government’s term.
As for Fiame Naomi Mataafa, having once been the driving force in the FAST Party, she’s now settling into her new colours with the SUP Party.
Reflecting on that 2021 win, Fiame admits that their move into power was not helped by the many bumps they faced in the changeover.
“It’s been quite a tumultuous term anyway. You know you’ll recall the 2021 election made that big change from the HRPP administration which had been in office for as close as 40 years,” Fiame says.
“But I think for the country, and especially for the machinery of the government it was a major change.”
The bumps did not stop there for Fiame and FAST, as fractures and divisions within the party began to show especially between Fiame and chairman Laauliolemalietoa Leauatea Polataivao Schmidt and their supporters.
Questions were even raised as to whether Fiame should be leading the party and the country, to which she responded:
“I do think it was the predominant thing and sensible thing. Longest serving person in the FAST family, experienced in Cabinet since 1991, and also a career that I have never ever had any questionable activities with me,” she stated.
“That’s what I want to tell the FAST people. You know Laauli keeps on saying they were paying a courtesy to me, and blah blah blah… you know, this is serious business.”
The end for Fiame’s government came after she survived two no-confidence votes in Parliament earlier this year but couldn’t pass her budget. She had little option but to declare a new election and settle in as caretaker. Earlier, she’d been ousted from FAST after sacking Laauliolemalietoa from his ministerial roles for alleged criminal activity of which he was facing charges.
Having left FAST, Fiame now leads SUP (Samoa Uniting Party), also with some former FAST members, and is looking ahead with some confidence.
“You know you have a plan, but you also know things happen, right? You know one should never be surprised. And when things happen, you have to see it for what it is. And then you make the appropriate responses.”
Meanwhile over at the HRPP headquarters, Tuilaepa and his party are looking forward to the election next week.
The opposition leader is confident that they will be back in power.
“Both La’auli and Fiame were under me,” he says.
“The leader of the party, La’auli, has been a liar right from the beginning. He is still a liar.
“These people, went out to the country and promised paradise on earth. And did they measure up? Never. And they have been given the chance and they failed. Would you give another chance? No!”
Despite everything that has happened, Fiame is adamant that her short-lived term was successful in her eyes. And with her new group, is confident in the choice Samoans will make to lead the country.
“I’m hoping that Samoans are sensible, I’m hoping that they are paying attention to what’s been put out before them,” she says.
“But mostly, that they will be respectful of the process of voting. That they will allow the vote and they will see it as a normal part of democracy.
“What will happen will happen and you know whoever comes in will have to steer our boat and steer it well.”
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