Papaliʻi Liʻo Taeu Masipau | |
---|---|
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa | |
Assumed office 24 May 2021 [a] | |
Prime Minister | Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa |
Deputy | Auapaau Mulipola Aloitafua |
Preceded by | Leaupepe Toleafoa Faafisi |
Member of the Samoan Parliament | |
Assumed office 9 April 2021 | |
Preceded by | Namulauʻulu Sami Leota |
Constituency | Faʻasaleleʻaga No. 3 |
In office 4 March 2011 – 4 March 2016 | |
Preceded by | Papalii Samuelu Petaia |
Succeeded by | Paʻu Sefo Paʻu |
Constituency | Faʻasaleleʻaga No. 2 |
Personal details | |
Born | Papali'i Li'o Oloipola Taeu Masipau c. 1954 (age 69–70) Territory of Western Samoa |
Political party |
Tautua Samoa Party Human Rights Protection Party F.A.S.T. |
Papaliʻi Liʻo Oloipola Taeu Masipau (born c. 1954) [1] is a Samoan politician and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa.
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]
Papaliʻi Liʻo Taeu Masipau | |
---|---|
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa | |
Assumed office 24 May 2021 [a] | |
Prime Minister | Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa |
Deputy | Auapaau Mulipola Aloitafua |
Preceded by | Leaupepe Toleafoa Faafisi |
Member of the Samoan Parliament | |
Assumed office 9 April 2021 | |
Preceded by | Namulauʻulu Sami Leota |
Constituency | Faʻasaleleʻaga No. 3 |
In office 4 March 2011 – 4 March 2016 | |
Preceded by | Papalii Samuelu Petaia |
Succeeded by | Paʻu Sefo Paʻu |
Constituency | Faʻasaleleʻaga No. 2 |
Personal details | |
Born | Papali'i Li'o Oloipola Taeu Masipau c. 1954 (age 69–70) Territory of Western Samoa |
Political party |
Tautua Samoa Party Human Rights Protection Party F.A.S.T. |
Papaliʻi Liʻo Oloipola Taeu Masipau (born c. 1954) [1] is a Samoan politician and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa.
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]