The caretaker Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi, says he was "appointed by God" to lead Samoa and that the judiciary has no authority over his appointment.

Tuilaepa made the comments in an interview on Saturday in response to Samoa Solidarity International Group (S.S.I.G.) protests in front of the courthouse in Mulinu’u on Friday morning.

The caretaker Prime Minister said the protest should have been conducted inside a church.

“I am appointed by God [to lead this country] if they want me to step down," he told the Samoa Observer"

"They should go to a church and pray instead of protesting in front of the courthouse. The judiciary has no authority over my appointment as Prime Minister.”

The S.S.I.G. protests followed the announcement by the Head of State, His Highness Tuimaleali'ifano Sualauvi Va'aletoa II, on Tuesday night declaring 9 April elections void and calling a snap second poll on 21 May. 

An estimated crowd of over one hundred people gathered at the protest last Friday morning, singing and calling on the caretaker Prime Minister to step down. 

Tuilaepa appealed to the S.S.I.G. “to protest through prayers on bended knees inside a church”.

“The problem is, I do not appoint myself and if even if they do want to come protest [in front of our building] they are going to the wrong place. They need to go to a church,” Tuilaepa reiterated.  

Protestors repeatedly called out to “change the Government”. The protests were peaceful but attendees said they had been warned by Police officers not to block traffic and they called for Tuilaepa to step down as the leader of the country.

The leader of the Samoa First Party and lawyer  Unasa Iuni Sapolu said the protesters, feel the need to express their opinions through the protest.

Friday’s was the second protest held in front of the court this week. 

On Wednesday morning, protesters gathered to condemn what they described as a hijacking of the rule of law following an order to revoke the results of last month's elections. 

A little after 9 am, when the crowd was removed from in front of the court to across the street, a heavy Police presence arrived at the court. 

Not long afterward the Ministry of Police and Prisons’ Tactical Operation Squad arrived at the scene. Unasa said: “The re-election should be conducted if the proper process was followed. 

“But that is not the case at hand. As you can see what’s happening the matters are before the court to determine the legality of the elections and the additional seat, but now the Government wants re-election. 

“This is hijacking what the judiciary is doing right now and undermining their decision and it’s apparent there is no respect between the executive and the Head of State. 

“They have no [respect] whatsoever for the arms of Government."

Feagaimaali’i - an unsuccessful candidate during the 9 April elections - appealed for no second poll to be allowed to proceed. 

“What is the purpose of the judiciary, if they are not given the opportunity to review the case before them to make a determination on the legal issues?” asked Feagaimalii. 

“Why are they meddling with the matters pending before the court?”