Samoan PM defeats second no-confidence vote in two weeks

Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa has defeated a no-confidence motion against her minority government for a second time in two weeks.

Fiame defeated the no-confidence vote by 32 votes against the motion and 19 in favour today.

The leadership challenge failed after the instigator of the motion, FAST party chairman Laauli Leuatea Schmidt, and the Human Rights Protection Party leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, could not agree on a unified position on the motion.

In a role-reversal of last week's motion, the HRPP voted alongside Fiame.

Last week, it was Laauli who voted alongside Fiame to defeat the motion moved by Tuilaepa against Fiame.

In January, Laauli, alongside several FAST ministers, was removed by Fiame from her Cabinet, creating a major split within the ruling party.

[Source: RNZ]