Papaliʻi Liʻo Taeu Masipau
Samoan politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Papaliʻi Liʻo Oloipola Taeu Masipau (born c. 1954)[1] is a Samoan lawyer and former politician who served as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa from 2021 to 2025.
Papaliʻi Liʻo Taeu Masipau | |
|---|---|
| Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa | |
| In office 24 May 2021 – 16 September 2025[a] | |
| Prime Minister | Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa |
| Deputy | Auapaʻau Mulipola Aloitafua |
| Preceded by | Leaupepe Toleafoa Faafisi |
| Succeeded by | Auapaʻau Mulipola Aloitafua |
| Member of the Samoan Parliament | |
| In office 9 April 2021 – 3 June 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Namulauʻulu Sami Leota |
| Succeeded by | Namulauʻulu Sami Leota |
| Constituency | Faʻasaleleʻaga No. 3 |
| In office 4 March 2011 – 4 March 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Papalii Samuelu Petaia |
| Succeeded by | Paʻu Sefo Paʻu |
| Constituency | Faʻasaleleʻaga No. 2 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1954 (age 71–72) |
| Party | Tautua Samoa Party Human Rights Protection Party F.A.S.T. |
Papaliʻi is a lawyer and former Assistant Police Commissioner.[1] He was first elected to the Fono as a candidate for the Tautua Samoa Party in the 2011 Samoan general election. He lost his seat in the 2016 election. In 2019 he ran as a candidate for the Human Rights Protection Party in the Faʻasaleleaga No. 2 by-election,[2] but was unsuccessful.[3]
He was re-elected as a candidate for the F.A.S.T. party for Faʻasaleleaga No. 3 in the 2021 election.[4] On 22 May 2021 he was nominated by FAST as Speaker.[5] On 24 May he was sworn in in an ad-hoc ceremony after being locked out of Parliament.[6] The appointment was disputed by the caretaker government. On 23 July 2021 the Court of Appeal ruled that the swearing-in ceremony was constitutional and binding, and that FAST had been the government since 24 May.[7] On 26 July he was welcomed to parliament and given the keys to the parliamentary complex.[8]
On 13 September, in response to HRPP MPs refusing to be sworn in by him,[9] Papaliʻi banned them from attending the first full sitting of parliament.[10][11] HRPP MPs were forbidden entry on both 14 and 15 September, and on 15 September the police threatened to disperse them by force.[12] On 16 September 2021 the Supreme Court declared that the speaker has an obligation to administer the oath of allegiance, and ordered him to swear in the HRPP MPs.[13] The MPs were sworn in on 17 September.[14]
Following the 2021 Samoan by-elections Papaliʻi refused to swear in two HRPP MPs appointed under the women's quota until the Supreme Court finalised legal challenges on their appointment.[15] The HRPP announced they would challenge the decision in court.[16]
In December 2021 Papaliʻi's son, Deputy Electoral Commissioner Afualo Daryl Mapu, was arrested for dealing methamphetamine and possession of illegal weapons.[17] Papaliʻi congratulated the police for their work and said that anyone who breaks the law should be held accountable for their actions.[18]
During the 2025 snap election, Masipau lost his seat to the HRPP's Namulauʻulu Sami Leota,[19] whom he had defeated in 2021. Reflecting on the election, Masipau said he was "relieved" and announced his intention to open a law firm.[20] Auapaʻau Mulipola Aloitafua, who served as deputy speaker in the 17th Parliament, succeeded Masipau as speaker.[21]