Papali’i Li’o Taeu Masipau

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Papali’i Li’o Taeu Masipau
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa
Assumed office
24 May 2021[a]
Prime MinisterFiamē Naomi Mataʻafa
DeputyAuapaau Mulipola Aloitafua
Preceded byLeaupepe Toleafoa Faafisi
Member of the Samoan Parliament
Assumed office
9 April 2021
Preceded byNamulau'ulu Sami Leota
ConstituencyFa'asalele'aga No. 3
In office
4 March 2011 – 4 March 2016
Preceded byPapalii Samuelu Petaia
Succeeded byPa’u Sefo Pa’u
ConstituencyFa'asalele'aga 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.

Papali’i Li’o Oloipola Taeu Masipau (born c. 1954)[1] is a Samoan politician and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa.

Papali’i 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 Fa’asaleleaga No. 2 by-election,[2] but was unsuccessful.[3]

He was re-elected as a candidate for the F.A.S.T. party for Fa’asaleleaga 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] Papali’i 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 Papali’i 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 Papali’i's son, Deputy Electoral Commissioner Afualo Daryl Mapu, was arrested for dealing methamphetamine and possession of illegal weapons.[17] Papali’i 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. ^ a b Soli Wilson (24 September 2020). "Papali'i Li'o Ta'eu 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 Feagaimaali'i (10 April 2021). "Fa'asaleleaga No. 3 challenger grateful victor". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  5. ^ Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (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. ^ Matai'a 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. ^ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (13 September 2021). "Unsworn M.P.s turned away: Speaker". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  12. ^ Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (15 September 2021). "Tensions flare as H.R.P.P. given evacuation order". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  13. ^ Joyetter Feagaimaali'i (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. ^ Matai'a 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. ^ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (13 December 2021). "H.R.P.P. to challenge Speaker's decision". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  17. ^ Matai'a 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.
Legislative Assembly of Samoa
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Fa'asalele'aga No. 2
2011–2016 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Fa'asalele'aga No. 3
2021–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa
2021–present
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