Fiame Had Difficult Time Being Accepted by Men

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For the first time since Samoa began electing its own leaders after gaining independence in 1962, a woman has been voted as the next Deputy Prime Minister.

The day after voters in Samoa elected the ruling Human Rights Protection Party with the biggest margin ever in the party’s 30-year rule, the 44 members met and elected Fiame Naomi Mataafa as deputy leader of their party and deputy prime minister.

Fiame was the Minister of Justice in the previous government and has also held the ministerial portfolios of Education, Women, Rural Affairs, Youth and Culture.

The daughter of Samoa’s first Prime Minister Mataafa Fiame Mulinuu, Fiame entered Parliament when she was in her early 20’s.

At a gathering of family and friends for Fiame at Taalolo Lodge a week before the general election, she reflected on her early days as a Member of Parliament and the struggle she faced being accepted, not only because she was a woman but also because she was single.

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Provisional results gave HRPP 44 seats, the opposition Tautua Samoa 2 and three independents.

Fiame replaces Fonotoe Lauofo Pierre Meredith as Deputy Prime Minister, and according to political observers, is a likely choice to succeed Tuilaepa as head of HRPP and next Prime Minister of Samoa should Tuilaepa retire or be forced out of the leadership.

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