His Highness Afioga Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Sualauvi in 2018 | |
| O le Ao o le Malo of Samoa | |
| Assumed office 21 July 2017 | |
| Prime Minister | |
| Deputy | See list
|
| Preceded by | Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi |
| Chancellor of theUniversity of the South Pacific | |
| In office 1 July 2022 – 30 June 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Dalton Tagelagi |
| Succeeded by | David Vunagi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1947-04-29)29 April 1947 (age 78) |
| Party | Independent |
| Spouse | Masiofo Faʻamausili Leinafo |
| Alma mater |
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AfiogaTuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Eti Sualauvi II (born 29 April 1947)[1] is a Samoan politician who is the currentO le Ao o le Malo (head of state) ofSamoa, in office since 2017.[2]
He is a great-grandson of one of theMau movement leaders,Tuimalealiʻifano Faʻaoloiʻi Siʻuaʻana I, and grand-nephew ofTuiaana Tuimalealiʻifano Suatipatipa II, who was the inaugural member of theCouncil of Deputies in 1962.[3] He was appointed to the title ofTuimalealiʻifano in July 1977, a title formed out of a cadet branch of the SāTupua state dynasty and one of the four paramountchiefly titles of Samoa.[4][5][6] He is married to Masiofo Faʻamausili Leinafo Tuimalealiʻifano.
He worked as a policeman, lawyer and previously was a Samoan Police Chief Inspector and a secondary school teacher. He was a police officer inNew Zealand for three years. He also served as a public-defender, public trustee, and barrister and solicitor in theSupreme 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 inAustralia and New Zealand for theChristian Congregational Church of Samoa.
During the2001 general election, Tuimalealiʻifano ran for thelegislative assembly contesting the constituency of Falelatai and Samatau as an independent candidate. His opponent was the incumbent representativeMisa Telefoni Retzlaff of theHuman Rights Protection Party. As aTama-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.[a] He also pointed out that current and past holders of the other three paramountTama-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 bear to see aTama-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 theCouncil 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]
In 2017, he waselected to succeedTui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi as the head of state (O le Ao o le Malo) of Samoa, having previously been a member of the Council of Deputies to the Head of State from 1993 to 2001 and since 2004.[6] He was sworn in on 21 July 2017.[10] In 2019, he hosted the visit ofPresident Russell M. Nelson ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[11]
In May 2021, Sualauvi purported to revoke the results of the2021 election and call new elections.[12][13] The decision was overturned by the Samoa Supreme Court on 17 May 2021.[14][15] Sualauvi then issued a proclamation to prevent theLegislative Assembly of Samoa from meeting, triggering aconstitutional crisis.[16]
In July 2022 his term of office was extended until the next parliamentary sitting in August.[17] On 23 August 2022 he was reappointed as head of state for a further five-year term.[18]
On 1 July 2022, his one-year term as the 29th chancellor of theUniversity of the South Pacific commenced, succeedingNiue'sDalton Tagelagi.[19] He was succeeded bySolomon Islands Governor-GeneralDavid Vunagi in 2023.[20]
Sualauvi has aBachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from theAustralian National University and a Certificate and Diploma in Theological Studies from Malua Theological College.
Samoa has been thrown into a constitutional crisis
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Tuimalealiʻifano 1977–present | Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | O le Ao o le Malo of Samoa Acting 2007 Served alongside:Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi | O le Ao o le Malo of Samoa 2017–present | Incumbent |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chancellor of theUniversity of the South Pacific 2022–2023 | Succeeded by |
| Postholders |
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|---|---|---|
| Elections | ||
*acting | ||