Associate Minister of Health and member of parliament for Faleata No. 4, Ale Vena Ale, sparked heated exchanges in parliament on Thursday after claiming that all MPs had spent money during the 2025 snap elections.

“So if you say you didn’t spend money during the elections, then I guess you’re the only one who didn’t spend money. I am certain that everyone who is sitting here used money during the election period,” said Ale.

Opposition leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), immediately interjected, telling Ale to “stop talking about other MPs and speak about yourself.”

Ale continued by advising parliament to review Samoa’s election laws, noting the reduction in the number of HRPP election challenges.
“Thank you that the 20 election challenges of the HRPP have dropped, now it’s only eight,” he said. “Can I ask, is there anyone in here who did not spend money on their campaigning?”

He added, “Samoa is a very different country from the rest of the world, especially when it is time for our election."

Ale said that from the process of encouraging people to vote through to election day, money often changes hands in ways that breach the law.

"In the previous government, when we were in the seminar, I brought it up, and the prime minister at the time did not agree. ‘That law does not suit.’ "My advice is that it would be good to allocate money for each candidate for campaigning,” said Ale

Fiame Naomi Mataʻafa, MP for Lotofaga, stood to clarify Ale’s remarks.

“I want clarification about what he just said—that I said that the law is not right. If that is what he meant, I would like to correct what he just said. The law is correct because giving money to people is buying that person’s vote,” Fiame said.

Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, MP for Faleata No. 3, also weighed in, saying Ale was pointing fingers at the opposition.
“It was the most corrupt election in the arena of politics,” said Lealailepule.

Faumuina Opapo Oeti, MP for Faleata No. 1, defended himself against any suggestion of bribery. 

“There were five attempts of asking for money (from me) and even one that came to Petesa, and I never gave them money. I say this because I was a judge and a pastor,” Faumuina said.

HRPP deputy leader Lauofo Fonotoe Nuafesili Pierre urged parliament to move on from the matter, noting that election challenges remain before the courts.

“It is stated in the newspaper that MPs are sitting here whose matters are with the court,” Lauofo said.