ENG – Fiamē Naomi Matā’afa and SUP Concede Election, Congratulate FAST – Thanks the Nation

On Tuesday afternoon, flanked by members of her Cabinet and the Sāmoa Ua Potopoto (SUP) Party, Prime Minister Hon. Fiamē Naomi Matā’afa delivered one of her final press conferences as Prime Minister, following the conclusion of Samoa’s 2025 General Election held on 29 August.

Fiamē formally conceded defeat, acknowledging that SUP had been unsuccessful in its bid to return to power. The party, which broke away from the FAST government earlier in 2025, will return to Parliament as a minority with just three MPs, including Fiamē herself. One of her Cabinet members, who stood as an independent, was also re-elected.

In her remarks, Fiamē congratulated Prime Minister-elect Hon. La’aulialemalietoa Polata’ivao Schmidt and the incoming Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) government on their victory.

“La’aulialemalietoa, the government is now in your hands – the roles and responsibilities are for Samoa and her people,” she said.

Fiamē also expressed gratitude to her colleagues and supporters, noting that although SUP is a small and relatively new party, it represents a seed that she believes will one day grow into a strong tree.

She gave special thanks to her Lotofaga constituency, which has returned her to Parliament for more than 40 years, and to the nation for the trust and support shown during her time as Samoa’s leader.

Celebrated as the “Iron Lady of the Pacific” and the first woman to serve as a Pacific Island head of government, Fiamē made history during her tenure. In closing, she reflected on Samoa’s political journey, describing the 2025 election outcome as a testament to “the resilience of Samoa’s democracy” and the enduring tradition of a peaceful transfer of power.

ATA: Screenshot / Government of Samoa (PC).