Court rules for new Samoa govt

Samoa’s Court of Appeal has ruled the country has a new government after it judged the impromptu swearing-in by the newcomer FAST party on May 24 was legitimate under the doctrine of necessity. The ceremony came on the 45th day after the general election, the last day allowable under the Constitution. It has been more than 100 days since the April 9 election. Party founder and deputy leader La’ au li ale ma lie to aLeua tea Polataivao Schmidt said the party celebrated with a church service last night and would work through the weekend to ensure a smooth transition of government on Monday. Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, the daughter of Samoa’s first prime minister, becomes the country’s first woman in the role. The Court of Appeal found the May 24 swearing-in was a legitimate convening of the Legislative Assembly. It added the previous ruling of the Supreme Court, which did not recognise FAST’s swearing in, relied on the good faith of other actors under the Constitution — a reliance that was misplaced.