| O le Ao o le Malo of the Independent State of Samoa | |
|---|---|
| O le Ao o le Malo o le Malo Saʻoloto Tutoʻatasi o Sāmoa | |
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| Style | His Highness |
| Type | Head of state |
| Residence | Vailele[1] |
| Seat | Apia |
| Appointer | Legislative Assembly |
| Term length | Five years, renewable once[2] |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Samoa |
| Inaugural holder | |
| Formation | 1 January 1962 |
| Deputy | Members of the Council of Deputies |
| Salary | US$82,000 annually[3] |
| Website | www.samoagovt.ws |
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| Constitution |
The O le Ao o le Malo (lit. 'chief of the state' in Samoan)[a] is the ceremonial head of state of Samoa. The position is described in Part III of the 1960 Samoan constitution.[4]
At the time the constitution was adopted, it was anticipated that future heads of state would be chosen from among the four tamaʻāiga paramount chiefs in line with customary protocol. This is not a constitutional requirement, so Samoa can be considered a parliamentary republic rather than a constitutional monarchy. The government Press Secretariat describes the O le Ao o le Malo as a "ceremonial president". The holder is given the formal style of Highness, as are the heads of the four paramount chiefly dynasties. The English title of Head of State (HOS) is also used for the office.[5]
Members of the Council of Deputies act as deputies to the head of state, substituting in the event of a vacancy or when the head of state is unable to fulfil their duties, such as when they are either absent or ill.
The current O le Ao o le Malo is Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II, who was elected to a five-year term which started on 21 July 2017. He was re-elected to a second five-year term on 24 August 2022,[6] and renewed his oath of office on 19 October.[7]
- ^ $600,000 residence for Head of State re-opens, SAMOA
- ^ "Parliament reduces Head of State's term to ten years". Samoa Observer. 17 February 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ Hill, Bruce (28 September 2016). "Samoan leaders salaries published by newspaper". ABC Radio Australia.
- ^ "Constitution of the Independent State of Western Samoa 1960". University of the South Pacific. Archived from the original on 8 July 2007. Retrieved 28 December 2007.
- ^ "Head of State | O le Ao o le Malo". Government of Samoa. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II was sworn in as the Head of State of the Independent State of Samoa on the 21st July, 2017.
- ^ "Samoan Parliament re-elects Head of State". RNZ Pacific. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
- ^ "Pacific news in brief for October 19". RNZ Pacific. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
Samoa's head of state has been sworn in by the Chief Justice for a second term of five years. [...] In August Parliament endorsed the appointment of Tuimalealiʻifano as head of state for a second term.
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