Deputy Prime Minister Steps Down to Protect Integrity of Cabinet

2026-03-30 - 06:43

Deputy Prime Minister Hon Toelupe Maoiautele Poumulinuku Onesemo is challenging procedural fairness of the decision handed down by the Electoral Court, and announced his resignation as Deputy Prime Minister in a move to protect the integrity of Government and the Cabinet. “Ina ia faatumauina le mamalu o le faigamalo ma ana galuega faatino.. aemaise o le fesiligia o le Kapeneta ae o loo o’u iai i totonu, a’o iai vaega ia, manatu ai e sili ona faaseetuāgalu.” Last week the Electoral Court ruled Samoa’s Deputy Prime Minister and Member of Parliament for Falealili I was guilty of bribery over a claim that $150 tala was given to a couple by a third party. The couple could not be found to present their evidence in Court, leading to the historical decision by the Electoral Court to accept their written affidavits as evidence, despite parties applying to withdraw their original petitions. In a special annoncement this afternoon, Toelupe told local media he had tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa and Cabinet earlier this morning. Toelupe Maoiautele Poumulinuku Onesemo won the Falealili 1 seat in a landslide victory at the August 2025 snap election, and was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastucture. Toelupe is not giving up his seat without a fight and explains that although he has resigned from Cabinet – he has lodged two legal challenges in Court. Toelupe has applied for a stay of proceedings in the Electoral Courts decision to vacate the seat of Falealili I while he pursues a legal challenge as to procedural fairness in the Electoral Courts’ ruling. In his press conference last week, Prime Minister Hon Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt described the loss of Toelupe’s seat as significant, particularly given his role as Deputy Prime Minister and his responsibility for the Works and Infrastructure portfolio. “He is my right hand as Deputy Prime Minister,” said Laaulialemalietoa. “He is a senior member of Cabinet and this is a huge loss..”