Naomi Mata'afa

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Fiame Naomi Mataʻafa in 2013

Fiame Naomi Mata'afa (born April 29, 1957 in Apia , Western Samoa Trust Territory ) is a Samoan politician and high chiefess (matai) , who acts as the leader of the party Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa and others Tasi (FAST). Before that she was a member of the Human Rights Protection Party . She was Samoa's first female cabinet minister and Samoa's first deputy prime minister from 2016 to 2020 . She is the daughter of Mataʻafa Mulinuʻu II , the former Prime Minister of Samoa.

On May 24, 2021, Mata'afa was sworn in as Prime Minister of Samoa after the parliamentary elections in April 2021 , while the incumbent, Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi , continues to refuse to recognize the legitimacy of the new government.

Life

Mata'afa was educated at the Samuel Marsden Collegiate School and the Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand . In the 1985 elections, she was first elected to the Samoan Legislative Assembly as a representative of the Lotofaga constituency , previously held by her mother. She has been re-elected in every election since then and is one of the longest-serving members of Parliament. On May 15, 1991, she was appointed Minister of Education, making her Samoa's first cabinet minister. She held this office until 2006 when she was appointed Minister for Women, Society and Social Development. From 2011 to 2016 she served as Minister of Justice.

In March 2016, Mata'afa was elected deputy chairman of the Human Rights Protection Party , where she prevailed against Faumuina Tiatia Liuga in a parliamentary group vote. On March 19, 2016, she was sworn in as Samoa's first female deputy prime minister. She has also been appointed Minister for Natural Resources and the Environment.

On September 10, 2020, Mataʻafa was publicly reprimanded by Prime Minister Sailele Tuilaʻepa Malielegaoi after announcing that she would follow the wishes of her constituency and vote against the controversial constitutional amendment law, the Land Law and the Judiciary Law. She resigned from the cabinet on September 11, 2020. After her resignation, she was invited by the Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa and others Tasi (FAST) party to become its chairman. She declined because she wanted to complete the legislative period. On January 13, 2021, Mata'afa announced that she would join FAST after the general election. In March 2021, Mata'afa was elected chairman of FAST.

Mata'afa represented Samoa on the Executive Council of UNESCO . From 2006 to 2012 she was procurator and chairwoman of the University of the South Pacific . She is currently President of the Samoa National Council of Women. In 2018, as Minister for Natural Resources and the Environment, she launched the Women in Climate Change Initiative (WiCC) , of which she is the patron.

Samoan parliamentary elections 2021

In the Samoan parliamentary elections in 2021 , which took place on April 9, 2021, Fiame Naomi Mataʻafa was re-elected unopposed for her seat in Lotofaga. Preliminary results of the general election showed that FAST had won 23 seats, HRPP 24 and Tautua Samoa and one Independent one seat each. A calculation error was discovered in the constituency of Vaimauga No. 2 which had falsely reported the candidates from Tautua Samoa before the HRPP candidate . This resulted in the results of FAST and HRPP being tied, with 25 seats each, and the independent first-term MP Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio holding the balance of power. The official results still showed a tie between FAST and HRPP.

After the election, FAST negotiated with Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio whether he should either form a coalition with FAST or join the party. Ponifasio agreed to join FAST on April 21, bringing in FAST 26 seats. One day before Ponifasio's announcement, however, the Samoan electoral commission announced that the 10 percent quota for women in parliament had not been achieved. An additional seat in parliament was added to the HRPP, resulting in a parliament with no clear majority in which both FAST and the HRPP were stuck with 26 seats each. FAST challenged the decision in court. On May 3, Fiame Naomi urged Prime Minister Tuilaepa to admit defeat.

On May 4, 2021, O le Ao o le Malo Vaʻaletoa Sualauvi II announced that new elections would take place on May 21 to resolve the deadlock . Mata'afa and FAST rejected new elections, stating that the decision “anticipates” the ruling by the Supreme Court on the additional parliamentary seat, which was scheduled for May 5th. She also said the O le Ao o le Malo's appeal was "unconstitutional" as all options had not yet been exhausted to break the deadlock. On May 5th, Mata'afa announced that FAST would challenge the decision in court.

On May 17th, the Supreme Court ruled that the creation of a new seat was unconstitutional, which gave FAST a majority in parliament. They then lifted the invalidity of the April 9 election results and declared that the call for new elections had no legal justification, and ordered that Parliament should meet within 45 days of the original ballot. This cleared the way for FAST to form a new government and transfer the office of Prime Minister to Mata'afa. On May 22, 2021, the head of state Sualauvi II suspended the proclamation until further notice, without giving the reasons for the suspension, but with the note that these will be announced "in due course", which triggered a Samoan constitutional crisis. The suspension of parliament was lifted by the Supreme Court a day later. After the previous ruling party HRPP blocked access to the parliament building on May 24, 2021, Mata'afa was sworn in as the new prime minister in a tent in front of the building. The HRPP declared the swearing in law to be illegal and appealed to the Supreme Court again.

Awards

In 2017 she received the Stars of Oceania Individual's Award. In December 2018, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of the South Pacific . As Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, she received the Ocean Stewardship Award in 2017 from Conservation International and the Ocean Health Index for her role in implementing Samoa's ocean strategy.

family

Her father, Mataʻafa Mulinuʻu II. , A "Paramount Chief" (high chief), was the first Prime Minister of Samoa. Her mother, Laulu Fetauimalemau Mataʻafa, was a diplomat , educator and politician. Her maternal grandfather, Le Mamea Matatumua Ata, was one of the drafters of the Samoan constitution.

She was studying at Victoria University in New Zealand when she was called back by her ʻAiga (extended family) to take on one of her father's Matai degrees, Fiame von Lotofaga.

Her mother, Laulu Fetaui, moved into parliament from the Lotofaga constituency in 1975 after her husband died. After Laulu Fetaui withdrew from politics, Fiame Naomi ran for the seat and was elected.

Mataʻafa is a member of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa in Lotofaga.

literature

  • Ceridwen Spark, Jack Corbett: FIAME Naomi Mata ' afa Samoa's First Female Deputy Prime Minister . In: The Journal of Pacific History . tape 55 , no. 4 . Taylor & Francis, 2020, pp. 453-474 (English).

Web links

Commons : Fiame Naomi Mata'afa  - collection of images

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Ceridwen Spark, Jack Corbett: Fiamē Naomi Mata ' afa Samoa's First Female Deputy Prime Minister . In: The Journal of Pacific History . tape 55 , no. 4 . Taylor & Francis, 2020, pp. 458 , doi : 10.1080 / 00223344.2020.1713069 (English, academia.edu ).
  2. ↑ a b c Hon. Fiame Naomi Mata'afa from 16 - Perspectives of Pacific women. In: Radio New Zealand . November 1, 2011, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  3. ↑ FAST celebrates Fiame's birthday. In: Samoa Observer. May 1, 2021, accessed May 25, 2021 .
  4. ↑ a b Andreas Illmer: The woman who unseated Samoa's prime minister of 20 years. In: BBC.com . May 18, 2021, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  5. ↑ Samoa incumbent leader rejects first female Prime Minister's swearing in as 'treason'. In: Radio New Zealand . May 25, 2021, accessed May 26, 2021 .
  6. ↑ a b FIAME Naomi. (No longer available online.) In: parliament.gov.ws. Legislative Assembly of Samoa, archived from the original on August 24, 2007 ; accessed on May 20, 2021 .
  7. ↑ a b c Afioga Fiame Naomi Mata'afa. In: Pacific Futures. New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  8. ^ A b First Woman in Cabinet . In: The Canberra Times . May 16, 1991, p. 7 (English, gov.au [accessed on May 20, 2021]).
  9. ^ Five new faces in new Samoa cabinet. In: Radio New Zealand . April 24, 2006, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  10. ↑ Lanuola Tusani Tupufia: Fiame topples Faumuina, elected Deputy Leader. In: Samoa Observer. March 6, 2016, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  11. ↑ Vaimoana Tapaleao: Samoa swears in first female deputy PM. In: The New Zealand Herald . March 18, 2016, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  12. ^ Former Samoa deputy PM left out of cabinet. In: Radio New Zealand . March 18, 2016, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  13. ↑ Lanuola Tusani Tupufia: PM Tuilaepa rebukes Fiame for opposing LTC Bills. In: Samoa Observer. September 10, 2020, accessed on May 20, 2021 .
  14. ↑ Lanuola Tusani Tupufia: Deputy PM Fiame resigns from Cabinet. In: Samoa Observer. September 11, 2020, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  15. ↑ Samoa's deputy prime minister quits cabinet over controversial bills. In: Radio New Zealand . September 11, 2020, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  16. ↑ Lanuola Tusani Tupufia: Fiame says she won't join another party. In: Samoa Observer. September 13, 2020, accessed on May 20, 2021 .
  17. ^ Samoa's former Deputy PM to join new political party. In: Radio New Zealand . January 13, 2021, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  18. ↑ Soli Wilson: Fiame, FAST to make it official. In: Samoa Observer. January 12, 2021, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  19. ↑ Fiame to lead Samoa's FAST Party. In: Radio New Zealand . March 9, 2021, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  20. ↑ Green Spear: Women In Climate Change Network launched in Samoa. In: Women in Climate Change Network. January 30, 2018, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  21. ↑ Samoa's HRPP party faces stiff challenge as general voting begins. In: Radio New Zealand . April 9, 2021, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  22. ^ Accounting error in Samoa election has top parties tied again. In: Radio New Zealand . April 11, 2021, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  23. ↑ Samoa election: Official results show top parties still tied. In: Radio New Zealand . April 16, 2021, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  24. ^ Sina Retzlaff: Fiame Confirms Tuala's Decision to Join FAST. In: Samoa Global News. April 21, 2021, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  25. ↑ Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson: Samoa election 2021: still no clear winner despite creation of new seat. In: The Guardian . April 22, 2021, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  26. ↑ Samoa election: Official results show top parties still tied. In: Stuff. April 16, 2021, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  27. ↑ Lanuola Tusani Tupufia: HOS declares April election void. In: Samoa Observer. May 4, 2021, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  28. ↑ More twists in Samoa election saga, with more court action likely. In: Radio New Zealand . May 5, 2021, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  29. ↑ Lanuola Tusani Tupufia: FAST wins case, majority. In: Samoa Observer. May 17, 2021, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  30. ^ Extra seat thrown out, FAST wins Samoa election. In: Radio New Zealand . May 17, 2021, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  31. ↑ Marieta H Ilalio: Additional Parliamentary Seat Declared "Unconstitutional and Void". In: Samoa Global News. May 17, 2021, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  32. ↑ Lanuola Tusani Tupufia: Court overrules fresh election call. In: samoaobserver.ws. May 17, 2021, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  33. ↑ Samoa court dismisses call for second election. In: Radio New Zealand . May 17, 2021, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  34. ↑ Joyetter Feagaimaaliʻi: Head of State Suspends Parliament. In: Samoa Observer. May 22, 2021, accessed May 22, 2021 .
  35. ↑ Joyetter Feagaimaali'i: HOS proclamation 'unlawful': Supreme Court. In: The New York Times . May 23, 2021, accessed May 24, 2021 .
  36. ↑ Samoa's first female PM locked out of parliament by losing opponent. In: BBC News . May 24, 2021, accessed May 25, 2021 .
  37. ↑ Deputy PM honored. In: Samoa Observer. October 5, 2017, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  38. ↑ Acting PM to be awarded Doctor of Letters. In: Samoa Observer. December 5, 2018, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  39. ↑ Deidre Tautua-Fanene: Oceans champions awarded. In: Samoa Observer. September 7, 2017, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  40. ↑ Jamie Tahana: Sitting of Samoa parliament canceled; constitutional tower deepens. In: Radio New Zealand . May 23, 2021, accessed May 22, 2021 .
  41. ↑ a b Marj Moore: Fiame Naomi Mata'afa - A legacy of women leadership. In: Samoa Observer. March 19, 2016, accessed May 20, 2021 .
  42. ↑ Tina Mata'afa-Tufele: Fiame Naomi Mata'afa: a life in politics. In: Samoa Observer. September 12, 2020, accessed May 20, 2021 .
personal data
SURNAME Mata'afa, Naomi
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Mataʻafa, Fiame Naomi (full name);
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Samoan politician
DATE OF BIRTH 1957
PLACE OF BIRTH Apia , Samoa