O le Ao o le Malo

The O le Ao o le Malo (lit. 'chief of the state' in Samoan)^[a] is the ceremonial head of state of Samoa. In English, the office is alternatively referred to using the title of Head of State (HOS).^[4]

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
Coat of arms of Samoa
Flag of Samoa
Incumbent Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II since 21 July 2017
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	Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole Malietoa Tanumafili II
Formation	1 January 1962; 63 years ago (1962-01-01)
Deputy	Members of the Council of Deputies
Salary	US$82,000 annually[3]
Website	www.samoagovt.ws

At the time the constitution was adopted, it was anticipated that future heads of state would be chosen from among the four tamaʻāiga paramount chieftains in line with customary protocol.^[5] 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". Similar to monarchs, the holder is given the formal style of His Highness, as is the case with the four tamaʻāiga.

The Council of Deputies collectively acts as the deputy to the head of state, substituting in the event of a vacancy or when the head of state cannot otherwise fulfill their duties. The current head of state is Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II, who was elected to a five-year term in 2017 and re-elected in 2022.^[6]

History

The 1960 constitution of Samoa stipulated that heads of state were to be elected by the Legislative Assembly for five-year terms. At the same time, it created an exception for the inaugural officeholders, Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole and Malietoa Tanumafili II, named for a lifetime term beginning on Samoa's independence day on 1 January 1962.^[7][8] They represented, respectively, the paramount lineages of the Tupua Tamasese and Malietoa; both had fiercely competed in a civil war during the late 19th century for control for the four district chieftain titles, known as pāpā.^[5]

The two heads of state were jointly known as O Ao o le Malo and individually as O le Ao o le Malo. On the death of one head of state, the surviving counterpart would continue as the sole officeholder, and the article which constituted their appointment would be sunset at the end of both of their terms.^[7][5] Tupua Tamasese died in 1963, leaving Malietoa as sole head of state until his death in May 2007.^[9][10] The first election of a head of state by the Legislative Assembly followed in June, resulting in the nomination of Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi, who had served two prior terms as Prime Minister and is the elder son of Meaʻole.^[11]

The fourth and current head of state, Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II, is the great-grandson of Mau movement leader Tuimalealiʻifano Faʻaoloiʻi and nephew of the original member of the Council of Deputies, Tuiaana Tuimalealiʻifano Suatipatipa II. He has held the paramount title of Tuimalealiʻifano since 1977.^[12][13]

In 2019, the Samoan government amended the constitution, introducing a two-term limit for the head of state.^[2] In November 2021, the government announced that it was considering an amendment to make the office a lifetime appointment. This suggestion was part of a review of the constitution.^[14]

The former home of writer Robert Louis Stevenson in Vailima served as the head of state's official residence until it was damaged in cyclones in the 1990s; the building subsequently became the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum.^[15]

Qualifications

Article 18 of the Samoan constitution sets the qualifications for the position of head of state. They must:

• be eligible for election as a member of the Legislative Assembly;
• possess such qualifications as the Legislative Assembly may determine by resolution;
• not have previously been removed from the office on the grounds of misbehavior or infirmity.^[7]

Term of office

The head of state is elected by the Legislative Assembly for five years and can be re-elected once. The exceptions to this were Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole and Malietoa Tanumafili II, who were exempted from the election and term length clauses laid down by Article 19.^[7] A 2019 amendment to the constitution states that the head of state can serve no more than two terms.^[2]

A head of state's term may be terminated by:

• resignation;
• removal by the Legislative Assembly on the grounds of misbehavior or mental or physical infirmity;
• approval by two-thirds of the Legislative Assembly of a resolution for removal that is proposed and supported by at least a fourth of its members, following at least fourteen days between the notice of motion and debate on the motion;^[7]
• death.

Duties and powers

The position is that of a ceremonial figurehead, with actual power being held by the Prime Minister, whom the head of state appoints on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly. While the head of state "does not play an active role in government", they can dissolve the assembly and no act of parliament may become law without their approval – akin to royal assent in monarchies.^[16] They may also grant pardons.^[17]

Elections

To date, there have been four elections for the office of head of state. The first was held on 16 June 2007, in which Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi was elected unopposed by the 49-member strong parliament. The second was held on 19 July 2012, in which Efi was nominated by Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi and seconded by Palusalue Faʻapo II, the leader of the opposition. The third was held on 30 June 2017, in which Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II was elected unopposed.^[18] The fourth was held on 23 August 2022, in which Sualauvi II was reelected unopposed.^[19]

List of officeholders

Status

  Denotes acting O le Ao o le Malo

Symbols

^C Constitutional referendum

^D As member of the Council of Deputies

^† Died in office

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Elected	Term of office			Political party	Prime minister(s)
				Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole (1905–1963)[b]	1961[C]	1 January 1962	5 April 1963[†]	1 year, 94 days	Independent	Mulinuʻu II
1		Malietoa Tanumafili II (1913–2007)[c]		1 January 1962	11 May 2007[†]	45 years, 130 days	Independent	Mulinuʻu II Lealofi IV Tupua Kolone Alesana Tuilaʻepa
—		Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi[D] (born 1938) Acting O le Ao o le Malo	—	11 May 2007	20 June 2007	40 days	Independent	Tuilaʻepa
—		Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II[D] (born 1947) Acting O le Ao o le Malo		11 May 2007	20 June 2007		Independent
2		Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi (born 1938)	2007 2012	20 June 2007	21 July 2017	10 years, 31 days	Independent	Tuilaʻepa
3		Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II (born 1947)	2017 2022	21 July 2017[20]	Incumbent	6 years, 20 days	Independent	Tuilaʻepa Mataʻafa

Timeline

See also

• King of Malaysia – similar concept in Malaysia
• Politics of Samoa
• List of colonial governors of Samoa
• Prime Minister of Samoa
• Lists of office-holders

Notes

1. Ao is a title generally reserved for chiefs (matai), while malo means 'state' or 'government'.
2. Elected for Life. Served jointly with Tanumafili II.
3. Elected for Life. Served jointly with Meaʻole to 5 April 1963.