The appointment of his Highness Tuimalealiifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II as Head of State is valid until the next sitting of Parliament on 23 August 2022 to determine whether to extend his term for another five years.
His Highnesses first term of five years came to end on 21 July however it has been extended by Cabinet.
This was confirmed by Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa during a press conference with the media this week.
She said Tuimalealiifano’s term has ended, however, there is a provision that allows the extension of his term until Parliament convenes next month.
Prime Minister Fiame reaffirmed the current law stands that the winning party will appoint a Head of State and then be subjected to the approval of Parliament.
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 amended the Constitution which was passed into law in Parliament in January 2019, limiting the term of the Head of State to two terms a maximum of 10 years in office.
According to the Constitution a person who holds, or who has held for one term, office as Head of State, is only eligible for re-appointment to that office once. A person who has held the office as Head of State for two terms is not eligible to be reappointed to that office.