Fiame Mata'afa Faumuina Mulinu'u II - Politics

Politics

See also: Politics of Samoa

Fiame Mata'afa Mulinu'u II was one of the framers of the Constitution of Samoa and held a pivotal leadership role in Samoa's transition from colonial rule to political independence in 1962, in his dual roles as Prime Minister as well as a high ranked paramount chief. He was also part of the political family 'Aiga Sa Levalasi.'

He entered parliament in the 1957 general election under his title Fiame from the electoral constituency of Lotofaga. Afterwards, in the same year, he became Minister of Agriculture in the new Legislative Assembly of Samoa. In October 1959, he was elected by the legislative assembly as the first Prime Minister of Samoa. He was elected again at the general election in 1961.

At the time, "a substantial majority of members of the working committee on self-government, favoured 'a full-blooded' Samoan to be the country's first prime minister."

In 1960, he travelled to New York where he addressed the 4th Committee of the General Assembly. In the same year, he went to Buckingham Palace in the United Kingdom for his investure as Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

At the formal independence ceremony on 1 January 1962 when Samoa officially gained political independence, Fiame Mata'afa Mulinu'u II lowered the New Zealand flag. At the 1964 and 1967 general elections, he was returned as Prime Minister, unopposed.

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