kids encyclopedia robot

Prime Minister of Samoa facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Prime Minister of the
Independent State of
Samoa
Flag of Samoa.svg
Coat of arms of Samoa.svg
Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa 2 June 2022.jpg
Incumbent
Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa

since 24 May 2021
Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Style Madam Prime Minister
(informal)
The Honourable
(formal)
Her Excellency
(diplomatic)
Abbreviation PM
Member of
  • Legislative Assembly
  • Cabinet of Samoa
Seat Apia
Nominator Political parties
Appointer O le Ao o le Malo
Term length Five years, renewable
Constituting instrument Constitution of Samoa
Precursor Leader of Government Business
Inaugural holder Fiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II
Formation 1 October 1959; 65 years ago (1959-10-01)
Deputy Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa
Salary US$78,000 annually
Website www.samoagovt.ws


The Prime Minister of Samoa is the main leader of the government in Samoa. This person is chosen from the Legislative Assembly, which is like Samoa's parliament. The O le Ao o le Malo (Head of State) officially appoints the Prime Minister for a five-year term. Since Samoa became independent in 1962, seven different people have held this important job. The current Prime Minister is Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa. She became Prime Minister after a disagreement about the 2021 election results was settled by the court.

History of Samoa's Top Leader

Early Leaders in Colonial Times

The very first person to hold a similar leadership role in Samoa was Albert Barnes Steinberger. He was an American who became Prime Minister in July 1875, appointed by King Malietoa Laupepa. He only held the position for about seven months. British and American officials convinced the King to remove him because they thought he was too close to German business interests. After this, Samoa did not have a Prime Minister for many years. In 1899, Samoa was divided and became colonies of Germany and America.

During World War I, New Zealand took control of the German part of Samoa in 1914. Later, in 1920, it became a territory managed by New Zealand.

Prime Ministers After Independence

The role of Prime Minister officially began in 1959, while Samoa was still a New Zealand territory. The first Prime Minister was a high chief named Fiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II. He started his term on October 1, 1959.

Samoa, then called Western Samoa, gained its independence on January 1, 1962. The Prime Minister's job continued, and Fiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II remained in office. The Head of State, or O le Ao o le Malo, was created as a ceremonial role, meaning it was mostly for show and tradition. In 1991, the parliament changed the term for a Prime Minister from three years to five years. This meant a Prime Minister could serve longer without needing to be re-elected.

From May 24 to July 23, 2021, there was a big disagreement about who was the rightful Prime Minister. This happened after the 2021 general election had a very close result. The two people claiming the role were Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi, who had been Prime Minister for a long time, and Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa. Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa was a former Deputy Prime Minister and the daughter of the first Prime Minister. On July 23, 2021, the Supreme Court decided that Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa's party, FAST, had been the rightful government since May 24. Tuilaʻepa then accepted the court's decision. This made Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa Samoa's first female Prime Minister.

How the Prime Minister is Chosen and What They Do

Samoa's Constitution, which is like its rulebook, says that the Head of State (O le Ao o le Malo) has the main power. However, the Head of State acts only on the advice of the government. The Head of State signs new laws and can close down the parliament. The real power is used by the Prime Minister and their cabinet, which is a group of top government officials.

The Head of State chooses the Prime Minister from the Legislative Assembly. The person chosen must have the support of most members in the Assembly. The Legislative Assembly can also remove the Prime Minister from office. This system means Samoa is a parliamentary democracy. This is a type of government where the people elect representatives to a parliament, and the government is formed by the party or group that has the most support in that parliament.

List of Prime Ministers

Political parties

     Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP)      Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST)

Status

     Denotes acting prime minister

Symbols

Died in office

Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Samoa (1875–1876)

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Election Term of office Political party Monarch
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Albert Barnes Steinberger.jpg Albert Barnes Steinberger
(1840–1894)
22 May 1875 8 February 1876 262 days Independent Laupepa
Post abolished (8 February 1876 – 1 October 1959)

Prime Ministers of the Independent State of Samoa (1959–present)

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Election (Parliament) Term of office Political party O le Ao o le Malo
(Head(s) of state)
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Fiame Mata'afa Faumuina Mulinu'u II in Wellington 1962 (cropped).jpg Fiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II
(1921–1975)
1961 (1st)
1964 (2nd)
1967 (3rd)
1 October 1959 25 February 1970 10 years, 147 days Independent Meaʻole & Tanumafili II
Tanumafili II
2 Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV.jpg Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV
(1922–1983)
1970 (4th) 25 February 1970 20 March 1973 3 years, 23 days Independent
(1) Fiame Mata'afa Faumuina Mulinu'u II in Wellington 1962 (cropped).jpg Fiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II
(1921–1975)
1973 (5th) 20 March 1973 20 May 1975 2 years, 61 days Independent
Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV.jpg Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV
(1922–1983)
Acting prime minister
— (5th) 21 May 1975 24 March 1976 308 days Independent
3 Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi (cropped).jpg Tupuola Efi
(born 1938)
1976 (6th)
1979 (7th)
24 March 1976 13 April 1982 6 years, 20 days Independent
4 Coat of arms of Samoa.svg Vaʻai Kolone
(1911–2001)
1982 (8th) 13 April 1982 18 September 1982 158 days HRPP
(3) Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi (cropped).jpg Tupuola Efi
(born 1938)
— (8th) 18 September 1982 31 December 1982 104 days Independent
5 Tofilau Eti Alesana 1983 (cropped).jpg Tofilau Eti Alesana
(1924–1999)
— (8th)
1985 (9th)
31 December 1982 30 December 1985 2 years, 364 days HRPP
(4) Coat of arms of Samoa.svg Vaʻai Kolone
(1911–2001)
— (9th)
1988 (10th)
30 December 1985 8 April 1988 2 years, 100 days HRPP
(5) Tofilau Eti Alesana 1983 (cropped).jpg Tofilau Eti Alesana
(1924–1999)
— (10th)
1991 (11th)
1996 (12th)
8 April 1988 23 November 1998 10 years, 229 days HRPP
6 Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi 2018.jpg Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi
(born 1944)
— (12th)
2001 (13th)
2006 (14th)
2011 (15th)
2016 (16th)
23 November 1998 24 May 2021 22 years, 182 days HRPP
Tupua Tamasese Efi
Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II
7 Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa 2 June 2022.jpg Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa
(born 1957)
2021 (17th) 24 May 2021 Incumbent 4 years, 74 days FAST

Timeline of Prime Ministers

Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi Tofilau Eti Alesana Va'ai Kolone Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II

More to Explore

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Primer ministro de Samoa para niños

kids search engine
Prime Minister of Samoa Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.