Ale Vena Ale

Ale Vena Ale
Member of the Samoan Parliament
Incumbent
Assumed office
24 October 2023
Preceded byVacant
ConstituencyFaleata No. 4
In office
9 April 2021 – 19 July 2023
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byVacant
ConstituencyFaleata No. 4
In office
14 May 2010 – 4 March 2011
Preceded byLealailepule Rimoni Aiafi
Succeeded byLealailepule Rimoni Aiafi
ConstituencyFaleata West
Personal details
Born1951 or 1952 (age 72–73)[1]
Political party

Ale Vena Ale (born 1951/1952) is a Samoan politician and member of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa. He is a founding member of the Human Rights Protection Party.[1]

Ale had previously served as an MP[2] and as Public Service Commissioner.[3] He was re-elected to the Legislative Assembly at the 2010 Faleata West by-election.[4][5] He lost his seat at the 2011 Samoan general election.

Ale unsuccessfully contested the 2016 election. Following the election, he filed an unsuccessful election petition against the winning candidate.[6]

He was re-elected in the new seat of Faleata No. 4 at the 2021 Samoan general election.[7] Following the election he was the HRPP's choice for Deputy Speaker.[8] Following the 2021 Samoan constitutional crisis he called for a full review of the constitution to grant greater powers to the O le Ao o le Malo.[9]

In June 2022 Ale revealed that he was unhappy with the leadership of the HRPP and wanted to become an independent.[10][11] He later urged HRPP leader Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi to step down as leader.[12] Most of Ale's constituents supported his exit from the party, with one of Ale's former campaign managers saying that he expressed dissatisfaction with the HRPP in private for a while. Ale expressed frustration towards Tuila'epa's poor responses to the HRPP's defeat in the 2021 general election to the newly formed Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi party, the disappointing showing at the 2021 by-elections and the failure to win subsequent legal challenges. Ale stated, "Those are the signs, and Tuila'epa knows it, but his refusal to even entertain any advice is taking its toll on the party members". Ale has not yet been able to leave the HRPP immediately due to a law passed in early 2021, in which if a member of parliament left their respective party to become an independent, a by-election would take place in their constituency. Ale subsequently began working with his lawyer to find a path to leave the HRPP without having to compete in a by-election to retain his seat. He admitted that the HRPP passed the law due to fears that many party caucus members would defect, as deputy prime minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa had done shortly before. He described the law as "discriminatory". HRPP members were reportedly surprised by Ale's statements, prompting Tuila'epa to hold an emergency press conference. The HRPP leader responded to Ale's comments by urging him to remember how he entered parliament when his predecessor Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi refused to retract his support for a party he was not a member of, triggering a by-election.[13]

On 3 November 2022 Ale and fellow MP Tuu'u Anasi'i Leota resigned from the HRPP to become independents, saying they did not want to remain in a party led by a leader guilty of contempt of court.[14][15] Following a court challenge, their seats were declared vacant on 19 July 2023.[16] Ale said he would run as a FAST candidate in the resulting by-election.[17][18]

He was re-elected as a FAST candidate in the 2023 Faleata No. 4 by-election,[19] and was sworn back into parliament on 24 October 2023.[20]

  1. ^ a b Soli Wilson (21 October 2021). "Former M.P. Ale runs, could be last time". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  2. ^ Marieta Heidi Ilalio (27 March 2010). "Ex-MP contests Faleata West seat". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  3. ^ "Samoa internal affairs officials reportedly suspended for malpractice". RNZ. 2 August 2002. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  4. ^ Marieta Heidi Ilalio (15 May 2010). "Palu stays, Ale reigns". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
  5. ^ "Tautua Samoa's Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi loses parliamentary seat". RNZ. 17 May 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Final election petition in Samoa falls flat". RNZ. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  7. ^ "Warrant of Election" (PDF). Samoa Head of State. 12 March 2021. p. 2. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  8. ^ Jaleen Tupai (24 April 2021). "HRPP Decide their Nominations for Speaker and Deputy Speaker". Samoa Global News. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  9. ^ Mataeliga Pio Sioa (30 January 2022). "MP Wants Constitutional Review Of Head of State Powers". Newsline Samoa. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  10. ^ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (22 June 2022). "Ale unhappy with party, wants out". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  11. ^ Ganasavea Manuia Tafeaga (23 June 2022). "Members of Parliament Should be Allowed to Leave their Party and Become Independent MPs". Samoa Global News. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  12. ^ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (25 June 2022). "Ale calls for leadership change in H.R.P.P.". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  13. ^ Lagi Keresoma (27 June 2022). "Voters stand by MP Ale Vena's decision to leave HRPP". Talamua. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  14. ^ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (3 November 2022). "Tu'u'u and Ale resign from H.R.P.P." Samoa Observer. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  15. ^ "Samoan opposition MPs quit party to become independents". RNZ. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  16. ^ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (19 July 2023). "MPs Ale, Tuu'u and Mau'u to head to by-election". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  17. ^ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (19 July 2023). "Three MPs set for by-elections". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  18. ^ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (21 July 2023). "F.A.S.T. to endorse resigned M.Ps". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  19. ^ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (18 September 2023). "Ale returns under F.A.S.T. banner". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  20. ^ Lagi Keresoma (24 October 2023). "Three New FAST Members of Parliament Sworn-In". Talamua Online. Apia. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.