When Samoa became independent on January 1, 1962, two of the four paramount chiefs Tanumafili II and Meaʻolewere jointly named to the office for life by the 1960 Constitution. Each represented, respectively, the Malietoa and Tupua Tamasese, the "two of the four main family lineages" of Samoa. They were jointly known as O Ao o le Malo and individually as O le Ao o le Malo. Mea'ole died a year later in 1963, leaving Tanumafili as the sole holder of the office until his death in 2007, aged 94. His replacement, Tupua Tamasese Efi, had served two prior terms as Prime Minister and is the elder son of Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole. He was elected by the Samoan Legislative Assembly for a five-year term beginning on 20 June 2007 and again in July 2012 for a further five-year term. The 4th and current head of state is Tui A'ana Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aleto'a Eti Sualauvi II, the great grandson of Mau Movement leader Tuimaleali'ifano Fa'aoloi'i and nephew of the original member of the Council of Deputies Tuimaleali'ifano Suatipatipa II, succeeded Tufuga Efi, after being newly elected by the Legislative Assembly for a five-year term in 30 June 2017 when Tufuga Efi's term was nearing its end.
Qualifications
Article 18 of the Samoan constitution sets the qualifications for the position of Head of State. He must:
possess such qualifications as the Fono may determine by resolution;
not have previously been removed from the office on the grounds of misbehavior or infirmity.
Term of office
The Head of State is elected by the Fono for five years and can be re-elected. The exceptions to this were Tanumafili and Meaʻole, who were exempted from the five-year term laid down by Article 19. The constitution does not set forth a limit on the number of terms a Head of State can serve. There was an understanding that the office is to alternate between the four tama aiga families, of which the most recently elected Head of Statebelongs to the Tuimaleali'ifano clan, one of the four paramount chiefs alongside the Mata'afa. Removal from office can occur in four ways:
resignation;
removal by the Fono on the grounds of misbehavior or mental or physical infirmity;
approval by two-thirds of the Fono of a resolution for removal that is proposed and supported by at least a fourth of its members following at least fourteen days between the notice of motion and debate on the motion;
death.
Duties and powers
The position is that of a ceremonial head of state, while actual power is held by the Prime Minister, whom the Head of State appoints on the recommendation of the Fono. While the Head of State "does not play an active role in government", he can dissolve the Fono and no act of parliament will become law without his approval. The Head of State may also grant pardons.
Elections
To date, there have been three elections for the office of Head of State. The first was held on 16 June 2007, in which Tufuga Efi was elected unopposed by the 49-member strong parliament. The second was held on 19 July 2012, in which Efi was nominated by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi and seconded by Palusalue Fa’apo II, the leader of the opposition. The third was held on 30 June 2017, in which Va'aletoa Sualauvi II was elected over Efi by a majority vote of 23 to 15.
