Papaliʻi Liʻo Taeu Masipau

Papaliʻi Liʻo Oloipola Taeu Masipau (born c. 1954)[1] is a Samoan politician and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa.

Papaliʻi Liʻo Taeu Masipau
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa
Assumed office
24 May 2021[lower-alpha 1]
Prime MinisterFiamē Naomi Mataʻafa
DeputyAuapaau Mulipola Aloitafua
Preceded byLeaupepe Toleafoa Faafisi
Member of the Samoan Parliament
Assumed office
9 April 2021
Preceded byNamulauʻulu Sami Leota
ConstituencyFaʻasaleleʻaga No. 3
In office
4 March 2011 – 4 March 2016
Preceded byPapalii Samuelu Petaia
Succeeded byPaʻu Sefo Paʻu
ConstituencyFaʻasaleleʻaga No. 2
Personal details
Bornc. 1954 (age 68–69)
Territory of Western Samoa
Political partyTautua Samoa Party
Human Rights Protection Party
F.A.S.T.

Papaliʻi is a lawyer and former Assistant Police Commissioner.[1] He was first elected to the Fono as a candidate for the Tautua Samoa Party in the 2011 Samoan general election. He lost his seat in the 2016 election. In 2019 he ran as a candidate for the Human Rights Protection Party in the Faʻasaleleaga No. 2 by-election,[2] but was unsuccessful.[3]

He was re-elected as a candidate for the F.A.S.T. party for Faʻasaleleaga No. 3 in the 2021 election.[4] On 22 May 2021 he was nominated by FAST as Speaker.[5] On 24 May he was sworn in in an ad-hoc ceremony after being locked out of Parliament.[6] The appointment was disputed by the caretaker government. On 23 July 2021 the Court of Appeal ruled that the swearing-in ceremony was constitutional and binding, and that FAST had been the government since 24 May.[7] On 26 July he was welcomed to parliament and given the keys to the parliamentary complex.[8]

On 13 September, in response to HRPP MPs refusing to be sworn in by him,[9] Papaliʻi banned them from attending the first full sitting of parliament.[10][11] HRPP MPs were forbidden entry on both 14 and 15 September, and on 15 September the police threatened to disperse them by force.[12] On 16 September 2021 the Supreme Court declared that the speaker has an obligation to administer the oath of allegiance, and ordered him to swear in the HRPP MPs.[13] The MPs were sworn in on 17 September.[14]

Following the 2021 Samoan by-elections Papaliʻi refused to swear in two HRPP MPs appointed under the women's quota until the Supreme Court finalised legal challenges on their appointment.[15] The HRPP announced they would challenge the decision in court.[16]

In December 2021 Papaliʻi's son, Deputy Electoral Commissioner Afualo Daryl Mapu, was arrested for dealing methamphetamine and possession of illegal weapons.[17] Papaliʻi congratulated the police for their work and said that anyone who breaks the law should be held accountable for their actions.[18]

Notes
  1. Disputed: 24 May 2021 – 23 July 2021

References
  1. Soli Wilson (24 September 2020). "Papaliʻi Liʻo Taʻeu Masipau returns to run under F.A.S.T." Samoa Observer. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  2. "Candidates stand for Samoa ruling Human Rights Protection Party". Fiji Times. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  3. "Samoa ruling party candidate wins by-election". RNZ. 25 March 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  4. Joyetter Feagaimaaliʻi (10 April 2021). "Faʻasaleleaga No. 3 challenger grateful victor". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  5. Joyetter Feagaimaaliʻi (22 May 2021). "F.A.S.T. appoints leadership". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  6. Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (24 May 2021). "Fiame takes P.M.'s oath". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  7. Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (23 July 2021). "F.A.S.T. declared new Government as appeal upheld". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  8. Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (26 July 2021). "Parliament's new Speaker welcomed, receives keys". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  9. Mataiʻa Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (8 September 2021). "H.R.P.P. meets with Speaker". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  10. "HRPP Not Permitted to Attend Parliament – Speaker Sends Letter to Confirm". Samoa Global News. 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  11. Mataiʻa Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (13 September 2021). "Unsworn M.P.s turned away: Speaker". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  12. Joyetter Feagaimaaliʻi (15 September 2021). "Tensions flare as H.R.P.P. given evacuation order". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  13. Joyetter Feagaimaaliʻi (16 September 2021). "Court orders H.R.P.P. members sworn in". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  14. "HRPP MPs in Samoa have been sworn in". RNZ. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  15. Mataiʻa Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (10 December 2021). "Speaker defers swearing-in of two women M.P.s". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  16. Mataiʻa Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (13 December 2021). "H.R.P.P. to challenge Speaker's decision". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  17. Mataiʻa Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (29 December 2021). "Deputy Electoral Commissioner in drug bust". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  18. Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (3 January 2022). "After raid, Speaker calls for Electoral Commission scrutiny". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
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