It is better for the Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) Party to go to an election sooner than anticipated if the party is unable to solve its internal bickering said opposition leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.

Over the weekend sacked minister Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molio'o made comments questioning the validity of Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa's status in the House after she has been expelled from the party.

The friction which began with FAST chairman Laauli Leuatea Schmidt being charged is showing no signs of being mended even after it was ruled by the Speaker of the House Papalii Lio Masipau that internal party matters needed to be settled outside of parliament.

Speaking with the Samoa Observer, Tuilaepa believes that the FAST Party members should clear tensions within their caucus.

In Samoan, he said "Fai iai e o e fofo a latou pa'upa'u" in English "Go clear your boogers. (Go clean your nose)"

"Please go tell La'auli to clear their boogers and come up with a solution to the problems faced by their party," he said.

Tuilaepa said the turmoil faced by the government and the FAST Party should be resolved and if they cannot do it then the answer to the problem was that they all go back to an election.

"Go back to an election if you can't unite as one and also if you cannot take care of the government as leaders," Tuilaepa said.

The opposition leader said the solution to the problem faced by the FAST Party is in their own hands and that is to go back to election if they cannot find a way to resolve it as leaders of the country.

With the FAST Party divided, the Human Rights Protection Party feels that have a chance to become government again. However, when parliament began on 21 January, all parties indicated that they would work for the betterment of the nation and not go towards snap election.

Fiame has said that she was ready to head that way should there be issues in passing bills and laws as this would show no confidence in the government. The Constitution allows her to dissolve parliament in such circumstances by advising the Head of State.

After Laauli was charged, a petition signed by members of FAST including some cabinet ministers was handed to Fiame asking her to step down. Fiame seeing this as show of no confidence, sacked three cabinet ministers and replaced them. Following this Fiame and five cabinet ministers were expelled from the party. The expelled six have said that they remain FAST members.

Fiame then sacked 13 associate ministers who had signed the petition and had them return all government properties including vehicles.

The latest developments in the political fiasco are the comments by Mulipola.

She raised concerns about the legitimacy of the current government. 

She questioned how the minority fraction of FAST continues to hold power and govern effectively saying that the minority group no longer belong to the political party they contested under during the 2021 elections.

Mulipola believes that the majority of the ruling party have expressed their lack of confidence in the Prime Minister's leadership.

Under the Constitution and the Electoral Act, Fiame cannot be removed even if she has been expelled by the FAST Party.