As the Head of State’s first term comes to an end this month, Cabinet will deliberate whether to extend it to another five years as per the Constitution.
The term for the Head of State is five years but is only eligible upon reappointment for a second term.
This was confirmed by a senior Cabinet Minister, who told Radio Polynesia, that the issue on the Head of State’s term in office will be discussed in Cabinet this week for a final decision.
Samoa’s Head of State, his Highness Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II was appointed to office in July 2017.
Two years later the Tuilaepa Administration submitted amendments under the Head of State Constitutional Amendment Bill 2019 which was passed into law in Parliament in January 2019, limiting the term of the Head of State to two terms, five years each.
His Highness Tuimaleali’ifano was appointed after his Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi served for 10 years.
However, prior to that the Head of State served in the office on appointment by the winning party and approved by Members of Parliament.
According to the Constitution Amendment Act 2019: 2) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a person who holds, or who has held for one (1) term, office as Head of State, is only eligible for re-appointment to that office once.
(2A) A person who has held the office as Head of State for two (2) terms is not eligible to be reappointed to that office.”
