Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II

Afioga Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Eti Sualauvi II (born 29 April 1947)[1] is a Samoan politician who is the current O le Ao o le Malo (head of state) of Samoa, in office since 2017.[2]

His Highness Afioga
Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II
Sualauvi II in 2018
O le Ao o le Malo of Samoa
Assumed office
21 July 2017
Prime Minister
DeputyLe Mamea Ropati
Preceded byTui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi
Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific
In office
1 July 2022 – 30 June 2023
Preceded byDalton Tagelagi
Succeeded byDavid Vunagi
Personal details
Born
Vaʻaletoʻa Eti Sualauvi II

(1947-04-29) 29 April 1947
Western Samoa
Political partyIndependent
SpouseMasiofo Faʻamausili Leinafo
Alma mater

He was appointed to the title of Tuimaleali'ifano in July 1977, which is one of the four paramount chiefly titles of Samoa.[3][4]

Biography

Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Eti Sualauvi II is a member of the Tuimalealiʻifano family, a cadet branch of the Sā Tupua state dynasty and one of the four paramount titles of Samoa.[5] He is married to Masiofo Faʻamausili Leinafo Tuimalealiʻifano.

He is the great-grandson of one of the Mau movement leaders, Tuimaleali'ifano Fa'aoloi'i Si'ua'ana I, and grand-nephew of the sole Member of the Council of Deputies (1962–1974), Tui Aʻana Tuiaana Tuimaleali'ifano Suatipatipa II.[6]

Early career

He worked as a policeman, lawyer and previously was a Samoan Police Chief Inspector and a secondary school teacher. He was a police officer in New Zealand for three years. He also served as a public-defender, public trustee, and barrister and solicitor in the Supreme Court of Samoa. He is an elder deacon and lay preacher for the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa in the village of Matautu Falelatai. He has preached sermons in Australia and New Zealand for the Christian Congregational Church of Samoa.

2001 general election
See also: 2001 Samoan general election

During the 2001 general election, Tuimalealiʻifano ran for the legislative assembly contesting the constituency of Falelatai and Samatau as an independent candidate. His opponent was the incumbent representative Misa Telefoni Retzlaff of the Human Rights Protection Party. As a Tama-a-Aiga (lit. sons of the families) and holder of one of the four paramount Matai titles in Samoa, Tuimalealiʻifano filed his candidacy to restore prominence to his family title, which, according to him, went unrecognised in the public arena.[lower-alpha 1] He also pointed out that current and past holders of the other three paramount Tama-a-Aiga had various monuments honouring them, which was not the case for his title. Once Tuimalealiʻifano launched his candidacy, he sought the endorsement of the Falelatai village council; however, they instead backed Misa. The reason why they refused to support Tuimalealiʻifano was that they could not bare to see a Tama-a-Aiga be involved in a political conflict where they would face ridicule, damaging the title. The council also mentioned that should Tuimalealiʻifano be victorious, his role in parliament as an independent would most likely be minor. They instead attempted to convince Tuimalealiʻifano to remain a member of the council of deputies and explained to him that he was likely to become the next head of state. Tuimalealiʻifano refused to withdraw, to which the council responded, "then do as you please". He then continued to argue against the council's decision and brought up delicate issues which inflamed tensions between himself and the council.[8] Tuimalealiʻifano was ultimately defeated in a landslide by Misa, earning 38% of the vote to his opponent's 61%.[9]

Tuimalealiʻifano's parliamentary bid left him in over WS$200,000 in debt. Increased tensions during the campaign led the village council to banish Tuimalealiʻifano from Falelatai several weeks after the election. Some individuals who voted for Tuimalealiʻifano were also banished.[8]

Statesman

He was a member of the Council of Deputies to the Head of State from 1993 to 2001 and since 2004.[10] He was sworn in as O le Ao o le Malo on 21 July 2017.[11] In 2019, he hosted the visit of President Russell M. Nelson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[12]

2021 Constitutional crisis
Main article: 2021 Samoan constitutional crisis

In May 2021, Sualauvi purported to revoke the results of the 2021 election and call new elections.[13][14] The decision was overturned by the Samoa Supreme Court on 17 May 2021.[15][16] Sualauvi then issued a proclamation to prevent the Legislative Assembly of Samoa from meeting, triggering a constitutional crisis.[17]

In July 2022 his term of office was extended until the next parliamentary sitting in August.[18] On 23 August 2022 he was reappointed as head of state for a further five-year term.[19]

Chancellor of USP

On 1 July 2022, Tuimalealiʻifano's term as the 29th chancellor of the University of the South Pacific commenced, succeeding Niue's Dalton Tagelagi. Tuimalealiʻifano's term concluded on 30 July 2023,[20] and he was succeeded by Solomon Islands Governor-General David Vunagi.[21]

Education

Sualauvi has a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the Australian National University and a Certificate and Diploma in Theological Studies from Malua Theological College.

Notes
  1. In Samoa, electoral success tends to come from family ties, status and relationships rather than policy positions and political affiliation.[7]

References
  1. "Tui A'ana Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aleto'a Sualauvi II". Government of Samoa. Archived from the original on 13 July 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  2. "O le Ao o le Malo". Government of Samoa. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  3. "New head of state for Samoa". Radio NZ. Archived from the original on 4 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  4. "Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aleto'a Sualauvi II, is Samoa's fourth Head of State". Samoa Observer. 5 July 2017. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  5. Tuimaleali'ifano, Morgan A. (2006). O tama a 'aiga The politics of succession to Samoa's paramount titles. Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific. ISBN 978-982-02-0377-8. OCLC 494614506.
  6. "Genealogy". Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  7. "Samoa set for political showdown as Pacific nation heads to the polls". ABC News. Canberra. 9 April 2021. Archived from the original on 30 April 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  8. Tuimalealiʻifano, Morgan (December 2001). "'Aia Tatau and Afioga Tutasi: 'Aiga versus Tama a 'Aiga: Manipulation of Old and New Practices: An MP for Falelatai and Samatau in Samoa's 2001 Elections". The Journal of Pacific History. Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 36 (3): 317–325. doi:10.1080/00223340120096279. ISSN 0022-3344. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  9. "Independent State of Samoa". psephos.adam-car.net. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  10. "Tui A'ana Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aleto'a Sualauvi II, is Samoa's fourth Head of State". Samoa Observer. 5 July 2017. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  11. "New Head of State takes his oath". Samoa Observer. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  12. Mayron, Sapeer. "Head of State greets President Nelson of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints" Archived 23 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Samoa Observer, 18 May 2019. Retrieved on 23 March 2020.
  13. "Head of State to call for second election in Samoa; FAST reacts with anger". RNZ. 4 May 2021. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  14. Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (4 May 2021). "H.O.S. declares April election void". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  15. Lanuola Tusani Tupufia - Ah Tong (17 May 2021). "Court overrules fresh elections". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  16. "Samoa court dismisses call for second election". RNZ. 17 May 2021. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  17. Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (22 May 2021). "Head of State suspends Parliament". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021. Samoa has been thrown into a constitutional crisis
  18. Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (26 July 2022). "Head of State's appointment extended". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  19. Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (23 August 2022). "Tuimalealiifano reappointed as Head of State". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  20. Mika, Talaia (10 August 2022). "Head of State to be installed Chancellor of University of the South Pacific". Talamua. Apia. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  21. "Solomon Islands Governor General installed as the 30th Chancellor of the USP". Talamua Online. 31 August 2023. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
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