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O le Ao o le Malo

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O le Ao o le Malo of the
Independent State of
Samoa
O le Ao o le Malo o le Malo Saʻoloto Tutoʻatasi o Sāmoa
Coat of arms of Samoa
Flag of Samoa
since 21 July 2017
StyleHis Highness
TypeHead of state
ResidenceVailele[1]
SeatApia
AppointerLegislative Assembly
Term lengthFive years, renewable once[2]
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Samoa
Inaugural holder
Formation1 January 1962; 63 years ago (1962-01-01)
DeputyMembers of the Council of Deputies
SalaryUS$82,000 annually[3]
Websitewww.samoagovt.ws
Politics of Samoa
Constitution
Executive
Legislative
Judiciary
Elections
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations

The O le Ao o le Malo (lit. 'chief of the state' in Samoan)[a] is the ceremonial head of state of Samoa. In English, the office is alternatively referred to using the title of Head of State (HOS).[4]

At the time the constitution was adopted, it was anticipated that future heads of state would be chosen from among the four tamaʻāiga paramount chieftains in line with customary protocol.[5] This is not a constitutional requirement, so Samoa can be considered a parliamentary republic rather than a constitutional monarchy. The government press secretariat describes the O le Ao o le Malo as a "ceremonial president". Similar to monarchs, the holder is given the formal style of His Highness, as is the case with the four tamaʻāiga.

The Council of Deputies collectively acts as the deputy to the head of state, substituting in the event of a vacancy or when the head of state cannot otherwise fulfill their duties. The current head of state is Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II, who was elected to a five-year term in 2017 and re-elected in 2022.[6]

History

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The 1960 constitution of Samoa stipulated that heads of state were to be elected by the Legislative Assembly for five-year terms. At the same time, it created an exception for the inaugural officeholders, Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole and Malietoa Tanumafili II, named for a lifetime term beginning on Samoa's independence day on 1 January 1962.[7][8] They represented, respectively, the paramount lineages of the Tupua Tamasese and Malietoa; both had fiercely competed in a civil war during the late 19th century for control for the four district chieftain titles, known as pāpā.[5]

The two heads of state were jointly known as O Ao o le Malo and individually as O le Ao o le Malo. On the death of one head of state, the surviving counterpart would continue as the sole officeholder, and the article which constituted their appointment would be sunset at the end of both of their terms.[7][5] Tupua Tamasese died in 1963, leaving Malietoa as sole head of state until his death in May 2007.[9][10] The first election of a head of state by the Legislative Assembly followed in June, resulting in the nomination of Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi, who had served two prior terms as Prime Minister and is the elder son of Meaʻole.[11]

The fourth and current head of state, Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II, is the great-grandson of Mau movement leader Tuimalealiʻifano Faʻaoloiʻi and nephew of the original member of the Council of Deputies, Tuiaana Tuimalealiʻifano Suatipatipa II. He has held the paramount title of Tuimalealiʻifano since 1977.[12][13]

In 2019, the Samoan government amended the constitution, introducing a two-term limit for the head of state.[2] In November 2021, the government announced that it was considering an amendment to make the office a lifetime appointment. This suggestion was part of a review of the constitution.[14]

The former home of writer Robert Louis Stevenson in Vailima served as the head of state's official residence until it was damaged in cyclones in the 1990s; the building subsequently became the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum.[15]

Qualifications

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Article 18 of the Samoan constitution sets the qualifications for the position of head of state. They must:

  • be eligible for election as a member of the Legislative Assembly;
  • possess such qualifications as the Legislative Assembly may determine by resolution;
  • not have previously been removed from the office on the grounds of misbehavior or infirmity.[7]

Term of office

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The head of state is elected by the Legislative Assembly for five years and can be re-elected once. The exceptions to this were Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole and Malietoa Tanumafili II, who were exempted from the election and term length clauses laid down by Article 19.[7] A 2019 amendment to the constitution states that the head of state can serve no more than two terms.[2]

A head of state's term may be terminated by:

  • resignation;
  • removal by the Legislative Assembly on the grounds of misbehavior or mental or physical infirmity;
  • approval by two-thirds of the Legislative Assembly of a resolution for removal that is proposed and supported by at least a fourth of its members, following at least fourteen days between the notice of motion and debate on the motion;[7]
  • death.

Duties and powers

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The position is that of a ceremonial figurehead, with actual power being held by the Prime Minister, whom the head of state appoints on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly. While the head of state "does not play an active role in government", they can dissolve the assembly and no act of parliament may become law without their approval – akin to royal assent in monarchies.[16] They may also grant pardons.[17]

Elections

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To date, there have been four elections for the office of head of state. The first was held on 16 June 2007, in which Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi was elected unopposed by the 49-member strong parliament. The second was held on 19 July 2012, in which Efi was nominated by Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi and seconded by Palusalue Faʻapo II, the leader of the opposition. The third was held on 30 June 2017, in which Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II was elected unopposed.[18] The fourth was held on 23 August 2022, in which Sualauvi II was reelected unopposed.[19]

List of officeholders

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Status
  Denotes acting O le Ao o le Malo
Symbols

C Constitutional referendum

D As member of the Council of Deputies

† Died in office

No. Portrait Name

(Birth–Death)

Elected Term of office Political party Prime minister(s)
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole
(1905–1963)[b] 		1961[C] 1 January 1962 5 April 1963[†] 1 year, 94 days Independent Mulinuʻu II
1 Malietoa Tanumafili II
(1913–2007)[c] 		1 January 1962 11 May 2007[†] 45 years, 130 days Independent Mulinuʻu II
Lealofi IV
Tupua
Kolone
Alesana
Tuilaʻepa
— Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi[D]
(born 1938)
Acting O le Ao o le Malo 		— 11 May 2007 20 June 2007 40 days Independent Tuilaʻepa
— Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II[D]
(born 1947)
Acting O le Ao o le Malo 		11 May 2007 20 June 2007 Independent
2 Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi
(born 1938) 		2007
2012 		20 June 2007 21 July 2017 10 years, 31 days Independent Tuilaʻepa
3 Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II
(born 1947) 		2017
2022 		21 July 2017[20] Incumbent 6 years, 20 days Independent Tuilaʻepa
Mataʻafa

Timeline

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Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi IITui Ātua Tupua Tamasese EfiMalietoa Tanumafili IITupua Tamasese Meaʻole

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Ao is a title generally reserved for chiefs (matai), while malo means 'state' or 'government'.
  2. ^ Elected for Life. Served jointly with Tanumafili II.
  3. ^ Elected for Life. Served jointly with Meaʻole to 5 April 1963.

References

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  1. ^ Tautua-Fanene, Deidre (14 September 2018). "$600,000 residence for Head of State re-opens". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Parliament reduces Head of State's term to ten years". Samoa Observer. 17 February 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  3. ^ Hill, Bruce (28 September 2016). "Samoan leaders salaries published by newspaper". ABC Radio Australia.
  4. ^ "Head of State | O le Ao o le Malo". Government of Samoa. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2024. Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II was sworn in as the Head of State of the Independent State of Samoa on the 21st July, 2017.
  5. ^ a b c New Zealand Herald (28 June 2007). "Name says it all for Samoa's new leader". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2007.
  6. ^ "Pacific news in brief for October 19". RNZ Pacific. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022. Samoa's head of state has been sworn in by the Chief Justice for a second term of five years. [...] In August Parliament endorsed the appointment of Tuimalealiʻifano as head of state for a second term.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Constitution of the Independent State of Western Samoa 1960". University of the South Pacific. Archived from the original on 8 July 2007. Retrieved 28 December 2007.
  8. ^ Hassall, Graham & Saunders, Cheryl (2002). Asia-Pacific Constitutional Systems. Cambridge University Press. p. 41. ISBN 0-521-59129-5.
  9. ^ "Samoan king dies at the age of 94". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 May 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2007.
  10. ^ Jackson, Cherelle (13 May 2007). "Samoa's Head of State Malietoa dies aged 95". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  11. ^ New Zealand Herald (16 June 2007). "New head of state for Samoa". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 16 June 2007.
  12. ^ "TUIMALEALI'IFANO". members.iinet.net.au. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  13. ^ "Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aleto'a Sualauvi II, is Samoa's fourth Head of State". Samoa Observer. 5 July 2017. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  14. ^ "Samoa's Head of State could be appointed for life". RNZ Pacific. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Robert Louis Stevenson Museum". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  16. ^ Kogan Page; World of information (2003). Asia and Pacific Review 2003/04, 21st edition. Essex, England: Walden Publishing Ltd. p. 41. ISBN 0-7494-4063-5.
  17. ^ eDiplomat.com. "Samoa". Retrieved 28 December 2007.
  18. ^ New head of state for Samoa Radio New Zealand International, 5 July 2017
  19. ^ "Samoan Parliament re-elects Head of State". RNZ Pacific. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  20. ^ New head of state for Samoa Radio New Zealand International, 5 July 2017
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