Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, has firmly rejected claims he is setting himself up to be appointed the Head of State.
The claim has surfaced after the government tabled the Constitution Amendment Bill, which seeks to change the way the Head of State is elected.
If it becomes law, the Bill means the government will appoint the Head of State, instead of Parliament.
The tabling of the Bill has led to claims from the Tautua Samoa Party as well as the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P) that the Prime Minister is setting himself up for the position, later on.
But Tuilaepa dismissed the claims.
“It just shows how shallow they are to suggest such nonsense,” Tuilaepa told the media last week.
Asked to elaborate, he said: “If you go to a family and they are frying corn beef, all you want to do is take the corn beef.”
Tuilaepa said to suggest that he wants to become the Head of State is like rejecting corn beef and instead asking for “can of herring that’s used for a fa’alavelave.”
The Prime Minister said the position of the Head of State is “addressed as the Figure Head.” He reminded, however, that “the heart of everything is with the government.”
Tuilaepa said any person who would want something else when he’s the Prime Minister is a “fool.”
“Over here (as the Prime Minister in government) is where all appointments are made,” Tuilaepa laughed.
The Prime Minister was responding to Palusalue, who said last week that the only reason Tuilaepa is changing the Constitution is because of his desire to become the Head of State.
“The most dignified way to go about in appointing the Head of State is to leave it as it is and restrict the appointments to the position to holders of the Tama-a-Aiga titles,” said Palusalue.
“If the Prime Minister has any respect for our Head of State (past and current) he should move away from the subject.”
Palusalue reminded that Samoa is a country where all appointments “have fully been allocated.”
“We respect our Tama-a-Aiga and if the amendment was to limit the seats to them, we would fully support it,” Palusalue said.
“In fact we suggest that the position should be restricted to those from the Tama-a-Aiga to occupy the seat…that is a more dignified way and it also shows that we recognise and respect our royal families.”
Deputy leader of the Opposition, A’eau Peniamina Leavaise’eta supports Palusalue.
A’eau dismissed concerns that the Tama-a-Aiga line would end.
“That will never happen,” he said. “We have four Tama-a-Aiga, so it’s not possible.”
It was anticipated when the Constitution was adopted that the future Heads of State would be chosen from among the four Tama-a-Aiga.
However this is not required under the Constitution.
Under the Constitution of the Independent State of Western Samoa 1960, Part III about THE HEAD OF STATE reads:
“(1) The Head of State shall be elected by the Legislative Assembly under the provision of the First Schedule.
“(2) A person shall not be qualified to be elected to the office of the Head of State: (a) If he is not a person qualified to be elected as a Member of Parliament; or
“(b) If he does not possess such other qualifications as the Legislative Assembly may determine from time to time by resolution; or
“(c) If he has previously been removed from the office of Head of State under the provisions of clause (2) of Article 21.”
Back on the amendment, A’eau said the proposed changes to the Constitution shouldn’t be “wrapped and hidden” inside other Parliament businesses.
“If the party of the day nominates the Head of State, it would be called by people as the H.R.P.P’s Head of State.
“Its dignity is within Parliament. Why should one party decide on the Head of State and not Parliament that represents the whole country?”
Salega M.P., Afualo Dr. Wood Salele added his voice to the debate. The Tautua Party’s Shadow Minister of Finance said the Bill does not clearly define the use of “political party.”
He explained that if it comes down to 25 to 24 members on the two sides, it would disregard the other side that needed one seat to become equal.
“Yes the Prime Minister claims that this is democracy where the majority decides. But how about the other lot that is one number less than the other?"
“The amendment should define the majority to be two thirds of Parliament. That would be more specific and fair.”
Afualo added that the H.O.S does not belong to the government alone. The position holder should be appointed by Members of Parliament.
Tuilaepa disagrees.
“The words in the Constitution needs to be amended to be in line with what is happening today,” he said. “We (the government) advise on the nominated person but the Assembly makes the appointment."
“That advice needs to be given and that piece of paper can’t just fly on the desk and say that I nominate who. A person needs to make the nomination.”
Lastly, Tuilaepa reminded Palusalue and the Opposition that they don't need to tell him to respect the Tama Aiga families.
Tuilaepa said he holds matai titles that belong to all of them. The Prime Minister’s other chiefly titles include Lupesoliai, Aiono, Fatialofa and Neioti.
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