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3mo ago

Samoa’s Prime Minister Calls Early Election After Budget Rejection

Parliament’s rejection of her budget compelled her to seek dissolution, triggering an election set to occur within 90 days.

FILE - Samoan Prime Minister Afioga Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, left, and CHOGM Secretary General Patricia Scotland attend the Foreign Ministers meeting at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Apia, Samoa, Oct. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, Pool, File)
Britain's King Charles, right, and Samoan Prime Minister Afioga Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, left, talk during the opening ceremony for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Apia, Samoa, Oct. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, Pool, File)
A Samoan woman sitting in red and black patterned outfit with short white hair and red flower behind her ear.

Overview

  • Lawmakers rejected Fiamē’s 2025-26 budget by 34 votes to 16 with two abstentions, prompting her to seek dissolution of Parliament.
  • Fiamē’s minority government endured two no-confidence motions after she dismissed a cabinet minister facing criminal charges in January.
  • Under Samoa’s electoral law, an election must be held within 90 days, moving the vote up from its originally scheduled date next April.
  • A voter re-registration campaign had enrolled just 52% of eligible Samoans by the budget vote, raising concerns over electoral preparedness.
  • Fiamē has championed stronger international climate action and a cautious stance toward Chinese infrastructure funding while warning that severe electricity shortages threaten Samoa’s economic recovery.