2007 Samoan o le Ao o le Malo election

Background

The O le Ao o le Malo is the head of state of Samoa, an office which was established on its independence in 1962. The position is mostly ceremonial. Although power is vested in the prime minister and their cabinet, the head of state can dissolve the Legislative Assembly, and no act can become law without their signature.

The constitution, drafted in 1960 and adopted upon independence, stated that two paramount chiefs, Malietoa Tanumafili II and Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole, representatives of "two of the four main family lineages", would serve as co-heads of state for life, and that the Legislative Assembly would elect successive heads of state for five-year terms.

The election was triggered by the death of Malietoa Tanumafili II in May 2007, who served as the sole head of state of Samoa since Tupua Tamasese predeceased him in 1963. Per the Constitution, the Council of Deputies, whose members were Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi and Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II, performed the functions of head of state until a successor would be elected.

Eligibility

Parliament elects the head of state for a five-year term. According to the Constitution, the legislative assembly may only nominate one individual to be head of state. For an individual to qualify to be head of state, they must be a Samoan citizen, be eligible to run for parliament and not have previously been removed from the office.

Election

Tui Ātua was the sole nominee elected as head of state. A former prime minister and son of Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole, he was previously the opposition leader and became a member of the Council of Deputies in 2004. He was sworn in at parliament for his first term on 20 June 2007.

References

References

1. (23 May 2007). "Samoa to elect new head of state in June". People's Daily.
2. [[RNZ]]. "Samoa to swear in new Head of State tomorrow afternoon".
3. "Constitution of the Independent State of Samoa 1960".
4. (2003). "Asia and Pacific Review 2003/04, 21st edition". Walden Publishing Ltd..
5. (2002). "Asia-Pacific Constitutional Systems". Cambridge University Press.
6. (12 May 2007). "Dark day for Samoa". Samoa Observer.
7. (13 May 2007). "Samoa's Head of State Malietoa dies aged 95". NZ Herald.
8. Sagapolutele, Fili. (18 June 2007). "Samoa Head of State Announced". Pacific Magazine.
9. New Zealand Herald. (16 June 2007). "New head of state for Samoa". The New Zealand Herald.
10. Jackson, Cherelle. (20 June 2007). "Two men make history in Samoa". The New Zealand Herald.
11. (28 June 2007). "Name says it all for Samoa's new leader". The New Zealand Herald.