Two long serving Members of Parliament and cabinet ministers have been elevated to the Council of Member of Deputies or Deputy Heads of State.
The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Le Mamea Ropati and Minister of Revenue, Tuiloma Lameko, were elected after a motion by the Prime Minister, Tuila’epa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, which was endorsed by Parliament.
Tuilaepa told Parliament a member of the council of deputies can take over the position of head of state in the absence of the appointed head of state.
The other council of deputies member is Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aleto’a Sualauvi II.
The Constitution requires that three members of the council of deputies be elected by Parliament.
