{"id":259496,"date":"2021-07-31T20:09:38","date_gmt":"2021-07-31T20:09:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asiapacificreport.nz\/?p=61255"},"modified":"2021-07-31T20:09:38","modified_gmt":"2021-07-31T20:09:38","slug":"samoas-first-female-leader-has-made-history-now-she-faces-a-challenging-future-at-home-and-abroad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2021\/07\/31\/samoas-first-female-leader-has-made-history-now-she-faces-a-challenging-future-at-home-and-abroad\/","title":{"rendered":"Samoa\u2019s first female leader has made history \u2013 now she faces a challenging future at home and abroad"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>ANALYSIS:<\/strong> <em>By <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/patricia-a-obrien-1210054\">Patricia A. O&#8217;Brien<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/georgetown-university-1239\">Georgetown University<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>After nearly four months of being taken to the brink of dictatorship, Samoa\u2019s constitutional crisis ended on July 26 when the prime minister for the past 23 years, Dr Tuila&#8217;epa Sa\u2019ilele Malielegaoi, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.samoaobserver.ws\/category\/samoa\/88075\/?cont=true\">conceded defeat<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>With the April 9 election loss, the 40-year dominance of Samoan politics by Tuilaepa\u2019s Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) ended too.<\/p>\n<p>Samoa\u2019s new leader, Fiame Naomi Mata\u2019afa, might be the country\u2019s first female prime minister, but she is a veteran politician. As she attempts to bring her nation out of its greatest test in the 59 years since independence, she will need all the deep experience she brings to the role.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/samoas-stunning-election-result-on-the-verge-of-a-new-ruling-party-for-the-first-time-in-40-years-158608\">READ MORE: <\/a><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/samoas-stunning-election-result-on-the-verge-of-a-new-ruling-party-for-the-first-time-in-40-years-158608\">Samoa&#8217;s stunning election result: on the verge of a new ruling party for the first time in 40 years<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/samoan-democracy-hangs-in-the-balance-as-a-constitutional-arm-wrestle-plays-out-with-the-world-watching-161490\">Samoan democracy hangs in the balance as a constitutional arm wrestle plays out \u2014 with the world watching<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/has-the-door-finally-opened-for-samoas-first-female-prime-minister-after-weeks-of-constitutional-crisis-163263\">Has the door finally opened for Samoa&#8217;s first female prime minister, after weeks of constitutional crisis?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/with-five-countries-set-to-quit-is-it-curtains-for-the-pacific-islands-forum-155133\">With five countries set to quit, is it curtains for the Pacific Islands Forum?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/asiapacificreport.nz\/?s=Samoan+democracy\">Other Samoan democracy reports<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>A political dynasty<br \/>\n<\/strong>Fiame was born in 1957 into one of Samoa\u2019s leading chiefly and political families. Her parents were both trailblazers, too. Her father, Mata\u02bbafa Faumuina Mulinu\u02bbu II, served as Samoa\u2019s first prime minister over two terms (1959-1970 and 1973-1975).<\/p>\n<p>When he died in office in 1975, Fiame\u2019s mother, La&#8217;ulu Fetauimalemau Mata&#8217;afa, represented his constituency of Lotofagu. She was just the second woman to be elected to Samoa\u2019s Parliament.<\/p>\n<p>After serving in Parliament, La\u2019ulu was appointed Samoa\u2019s consul-general to New Zealand in 1989 and then served as Samoa\u2019s high commissioner to New Zealand from 1993 to 1997.<\/p>\n<p>Fiame also has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rnz.co.nz\/collections\/nff-women\/naomi-mataafa\">strong ties to New Zealand<\/a>. From age 11, she attended Marsden College in Wellington before studying political science at Victoria University, graduating in 1979.<\/p>\n<p><strong>A veteran and trailblazer<br \/>\n<\/strong>Fiame\u2019s own political career began in 1985 when she won her parents\u2019 former parliamentary seat of Lotofagu. Since then, Fiame\u2019s career has ridden the wave of the HRPP\u2019s popularity.<\/p>\n<p>Under former prime minister Tofilau, she became the country\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.samoaobserver.ws\/category\/samoa\/70421\">first female cabinet minister<\/a>, holding the education portfolio for 15 years. Fiame has also overseen the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development, and the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration, as well as other government appointments.<\/p>\n<p>In 2016, she again broke new ground when she was appointed Tuilaepa\u2019s deputy prime minister. She held this position until her resignation in September 2020 in protest at Tuilaepa\u2019s controversial \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lowyinstitute.org\/the-interpreter\/culture-constitution-and-controversy-samoa\">three bills<\/a>\u201d (which gave the Lands and Titles Court additional powers over the bestowal of lands and titles within families and villages and undermined judicial independence and the rule of law).<\/p>\n<p>The bills and their rushed passage into law ignited widespread protests and the formation of the Fa\u2019atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST Party), which Fiame joined as leader in March 2021. Ultimately they led to Tuilaepa\u2019s political demise.<\/p>\n<p>The bitter election campaign and its protracted aftermath, when Tuilaepa went to extraordinary lengths to retain power, has tested Fiame\u2019s mettle as a national leader.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout, she has embodied the same faith that justice would prevail that she asked of Samoa\u2019s people as they witnessed the alarming twists and turns of Tuilaepa\u2019s power play.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The challenge of power<br \/>\n<\/strong>Her impressive track record and admirably steady temperament will continue to be called upon as she faces multiple challenges as leader.<\/p>\n<p>Firstly, Fiame will have to contend with something Tuilaepa never had to during his long term \u2014 a viable opposition, whose leader just happens to be Tuilaepa. True to form, he has already <a href=\"https:\/\/www.samoaobserver.ws\/category\/samoa\/88145\">questioned the legitimacy<\/a> of Fiame\u2019s FAST government.<\/p>\n<p>How much power Tuilaepa can wield in Parliament is yet be to determined. Seven <a href=\"https:\/\/www.samoaobserver.ws\/category\/samoa\/87309\">by-elections<\/a> have been triggered so far due to petitions stemming from the general election. FAST currently holds 26 seats and the HRPP 17, with one independent.<\/p>\n<p>There will also be a byelection for the 52nd parliamentary seat created since the April 9 election \u2014 the seat designated for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rnz.co.nz\/international\/pacific-news\/443722\/women-march-in-samoa-in-support-of-extra-female-mp\">woman candidate<\/a> to meet a constitutionally mandated 10 percent quota of female parliamentarians. It was by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rnz.co.nz\/international\/pacific-news\/443722\/women-march-in-samoa-in-support-of-extra-female-mp\">creating this seat<\/a> and \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/talamua.com\/2021\/07\/12\/tv3-interviewer-apologizes-for-misquoting-fast-leader\/\">weaponising<\/a>\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.samoaobserver.ws\/category\/editorial\/87123\">gender politics<\/a> that Tuilaepa hoped to keep Fiame out of power.<\/p>\n<p>Fiame must also contend with Tuilaepa\u2019s residual powers beyond Parliament. His son, Leasiosio Oscar Malielegaoi, was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rnz.co.nz\/international\/pacific-news\/378463\/samoa-pm-s-son-named-as-new-finance-ceo\">appointed CEO<\/a> of the Ministry of Finance in 2018, as well as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.samoaobserver.ws\/category\/samoa\/58669\">various other positions<\/a>, by his father.<\/p>\n<p>The bureaucracy is staffed by other Tuilaepa loyalists. Reinvigorating national power structures will be a delicate operation for Fiame. But she is aided in her nation-building by the grassroots, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.samoaobserver.ws\/category\/samoa\/87847\">village-level<\/a> support for her government that has seen a succession of leaders calling on Tuilaepa to concede over the past weeks.<\/p>\n<p>This support will be critical, not only for the pending byelections but also to ward off the threat of covid-19, now tragically playing out in neighbouring Fiji.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Samoa\u2019s place in the world<br \/>\n<\/strong>While no deaths have been attributed to covid-19 in Samoa, vaccinations are vital to keep it that way. Currently, only <a href=\"https:\/\/www.samoagovt.ws\/\">18.6 percent of the population<\/a> are fully vaccinated and vaccine hesitancy persists.<\/p>\n<p>Ameliorating the devastating impact of the pandemic on Samoa\u2019s tourist economy is another major challenge. And Fiame will also need to negotiate China\u2019s considerable economic influence, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rnz.co.nz\/international\/pacific-news\/368252\/future-is-with-china-says-samoa-pm\">encouraged by Tuilaepa<\/a> but which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2021-05-20\/samoa-to-scrap-china-backed-port-project-under-new-leader\/100154524\">Fiame has signalled<\/a> she will not emulate.<\/p>\n<p>Regionally, Fiame has an opportunity to be a constructive presence at a time when the pandemic has exacerbated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/world\/north-america\/joe-biden-s-asia-tsar-china-s-harshness-to-australia-looks-unyielding-20210707-p587g7.html\">frayed relations<\/a> between Pacific democracies and China, and within the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2021\/feb\/09\/pacific-islands-forum-in-crisis-as-one-third-of-member-nations-quit\">Pacific Islands Forum<\/a>, which has recently seen a third of its member nations quit.<\/p>\n<p>None of which detracts from the historical significance of Fiame\u2019s election. She joins an exclusive group of women political leaders and can encourage other women in the region aspiring to political office.<\/p>\n<p>As US Vice-President Kamala Harris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vox.com\/policy-and-politics\/21554699\/kamala-harris-victory-acceptance-speech\">said of her own election<\/a>, \u201cI may be the first woman to hold this office. But I won\u2019t be the last.\u201d For Fiame, perhaps, that is the ultimate challenge.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/165083\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\" alt=\"The Conversation\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" \/><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/patricia-a-obrien-1210054\"><em>Patricia A. O&#8217;Brien<\/em><\/a><em>, Visiting Fellow, School of History, Australian National University, and Adjunct Professor, Asian Studies Programme, <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/georgetown-university-1239\">Georgetown University.<\/a><\/em><em>\u00a0This article is republished from <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/\">The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/samoas-first-female-leader-has-made-history-now-she-faces-a-challenging-future-at-home-and-abroad-165083\">original article<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"syndicated-attribution\">This post was originally published on <a href=\"https:\/\/asiapacificreport.nz\/2021\/08\/01\/samoas-first-female-leader-has-made-history-now-she-faces-a-challenging-future-at-home-and-abroad\/\">Asia Pacific Report<\/a>. <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ANALYSIS: By Patricia A. O\u2019Brien, Georgetown University After nearly four months of being taken to the brink of dictatorship, Samoa\u2019s constitutional crisis ended on July 26 when the prime minister for the past 23 years, Dr Tuila\u2019epa Sa\u2019ilele Malielegaoi, conceded defeat. With the April 9 election loss, the 40-year dominance of Samoan politics by Tuilaepa\u2019s<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":400,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[441,432,363,433,20036,5,22420,975,20038,356,7,118,12,32905,611,25642,24257,32906,20041],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/259496"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/400"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=259496"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/259496\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":259536,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/259496\/revisions\/259536"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=259496"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=259496"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=259496"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}