Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo

Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo
Lauofo in 2011
Leader of the Opposition
In office
27 January 2023 – 5 July 2023
Prime MinisterFiamē Naomi Mata‘afa
Preceded byTuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi
Succeeded byTuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi
Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa
In office
21 March 2011 – 18 March 2016
Prime MinisterTuila‘epa Sa‘ilele Malielegaoi
Preceded byMisa Telefoni Retzlaff
Succeeded byFiamē Naomi Mataʻafa
Minister of Trade, Labour, Industry and Commerce
In office
21 March 2011 – 18 March 2016
Prime MinisterTuila‘epa Sa‘ilele Malielegaoi
Preceded byMisa Telefoni Retzlaff
Succeeded byLautafi Fio Selafi Purcell
Member of the Samoan Parliament
for Anoama‘a Sisifo
Incumbent
Assumed office
18 March 2005
Preceded byTagaloa Sale Tagaloa
Personal details
Political partyHuman Rights Protection Party

Fonotoe Nuafesili Pierre Lauofo Meredith is a Samoan politician who served as the leader of the opposition from January to July 2023. A former deputy prime minister, he is a member of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP).

Lauofo was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Samoa in a by-election in 2005.[1] He was re-elected in the 2006 Samoan general election.

He was re-elected unopposed at the 2011 election after the candidate from the opposition Tautua Samoa Party was declared ineligible,[2] and appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour, Industry and Commerce.[3] In January 2014 he was charged with obstructing police after instructing Associate Minister Muagututagata Peter Ah Him to drive away from a police breath test.[4] In April 2014 he was convicted,[5] and fined US$90.[6] The conviction was overturned in 2017.[7] In the intervening period Lauofo was re-elected in the 2016 election, but was not reappointed to Cabinet.[8][9]

Lauofo was re-elected at the 2021 election. Following the election, he was elected HRPP deputy leader.[10]

On 27 January 2023, parliament elected Fonotoe as opposition leader,[11] succeeding Tuila‘epa Sa‘ilele Malielegaoi whose tenure was terminated due to his suspension from the legislature.[12] After the suspension was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, Tuila‘epa again became opposition leader.[13]

  1. ^ "SAMOA VILLAGE PENALIZES FAMILY FOR VOTE". Pacific Islands Report. 24 March 2005. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Samoa head of state declares election of two unopposed HRPP candidates". RNZ. 2 March 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Former opposition leader in Samoa joins new ruling party cabinet". RNZ. 21 March 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  4. ^ "Samoa Deputy PM and associate minister charged over traffic offences". RNZ. 12 January 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Samoa court found deputy PM and his associate minister guilty". RNZ. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Convicted Samoa Deputy PM apologises". RNZ. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  7. ^ Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu (12 December 2017). "Conviction against former Deputy P.M. quashed". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  8. ^ "Former Samoa deputy PM left out of cabinet". RNZ. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Former deputy PM left out of cabinet". Cook Islands News. 26 March 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  10. ^ Marieta H Ilalio (23 April 2021). "HRPP Selects Fonotoe as Deputy Leader". Samoa Global News. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Tuilaepa No Longer Opposition Leader In Parliament". Newsline Samoa. 27 January 2023. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  12. ^ Mataiʻa Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (11 November 2022). ""Tuilaepa not recognised as Opposition Leader"". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  13. ^ Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong (5 July 2023). "Speaker to recognise Tuilaepa as Opposition Leader". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 19 July 2023.