Opposition and Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) leader Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi has called out Speaker of the House Auapaʻau Mulipola Aloitafua, saying he lacks a basic understanding of parliamentary procedures.

He made the comments in his weekly press conference after Tuilaepa was ordered out of Parliament twice this week.

Tuilaepa said the Speaker’s actions were unprecedented and driven by what he described as a misunderstanding of both the Constitution and the fa’asamoa.

“It is extraordinary what parliament has come to,” Tuilaepa said. “The Speaker of the House has prioritised telling tales. He does not understand how parliament works.”

He said his suspension was based on an unverified rumour and had nothing to do with anything that occurred during parliamentary proceedings. “This is the first time someone has been suspended because of a rumour,” he said. “And it wasn’t even something that happened during a parliament sitting, this was during the break.”

Tuilaepa criticised a statement made by Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt, who said he would work with the Attorney General to adjust how messages are conveyed during parliamentary sessions. Tuilaepa argued that such changes would conflict with Samoa’s Constitution.

“If something like that does happen, we will take it to the law," Tuilaepa said.

He also dismissed suggestions that he was personally offended by the Speaker’s decisions.  “The only thought I had was that the Speaker does not understand."

Tuilaepa also questioned Auapaʻau’s cultural and linguistic understanding, saying the Speaker lacked knowledge of the aganu'u. “The Speaker talks about language, but I know he does not have enough understanding of the aganu'u,” he said.