Caretaker Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa says an attempt by the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly to nominate a new government was legally flawed and did not surprise her. 

The Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Satama Leatisa Tala wrote a “report” to the Head of State to inform him about the composition of political parties in the Legislative Assembly. 

In particular, the number of representatives held by each party, with the Fa’atuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) holding the majority of members in the House. 

According to Fiame, the report from the Clerk is flawed by law by citing provisions applied at the start of the parliamentary term, nominating a new Prime Minister and government based on the numbers. 

She said the rejection of the national budget by the House reflects a lack of confidence in the government of the day and allowed her to advise the Head of State to dissolve Parliament and return to the polls. 

Fiame continued that the current situation does not mean it’s a new parliamentary term that would invoke the legal provision cited by the Clerk to nominate a new government.   

“There are many different actions taken in the government’s journey, especially when the dispute within the political party surfaced,” she said. 

“We are aware that most of the time, they were saying we should resign and they can take over, but there are laws to make the transition. 

“The truth if the law did not provide for us to be here, we wouldn’t be sitting here, but we are here because it is provided for by the law and the same with the next step we are taking. 

“How I feel, I’m not surprised, and they continue to try…” 

In terms of the Clerk’s letter to the Head of State, Fiame said the Attorney General will respond to it and explain how the report to the Head of State is flawed. 

She noted the Clerk might have felt it was his duty to write to the Head of State stressing the Head of State is also acting in accordance with the law.