O le Ao o le Malo

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
Incumbent
Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II
since 21 July 2017
StyleHis Highness
TypeHead of state
ResidenceVailele[1]
SeatApia
AppointerLegislative Assembly
Term lengthFive years, renewable once[2]
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Samoa
Inaugural holder
Formation1 January 1962 (1962-01-01)
DeputyMembers of the Council of Deputies
SalaryUS$82,000 annually[3]
Websitewww.samoagovt.ws
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The O le Ao o le Malo (Samoan for "Chief of the government"[a]) is the ceremonial head of state of Samoa. The position is described in Part III of the 1960 Samoan constitution.[5] At the time the constitution was adopted, it was anticipated that future heads of state would be chosen from among the four Tama a 'Aiga "matai" 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 Head of State as a "ceremonial president". The holder is given the formal style of Highness, as are the heads of the four paramount chiefly dynasties.

Members of the Council of Deputies act as deputy heads of state, standing in for the head of state when they are unable to fulfil their duties, such as when the Head of State is 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. Tuimalealiʻifano was re-elected to a second five-year term on 24 August 2022,[6] and renewed his oath of office on 19 October.[7]

  1. ^ $600,000 residence for Head of State re-opens, SAMOA
  2. ^ "Parliament reduces Head of State's term to ten years". Samoa Observer. 17 February 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  3. ^ Hill, Bruce (28 September 2016). "Samoan leaders salaries published by newspaper". ABC Radio Australia.
  4. ^ https://search.worldcat.org/de/title/o-le-ao-o-le-malo-of-samoa-malietoa-tanumafili-ii-tufuga-efi-o-le-ao-o-le-malo-tupua-tamasese-meaole-order-of-merit-of-samoa/oclc/980753629
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "Samoan Parliament re-elects Head of State". RNZ Pacific. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  7. ^ "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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