The Pacific nation of Samoa swore in its first female Prime Minister and the ceremony was held in a tent. Leader of the opposition Fiame Naomi Mataafa wasn’t sworn-in in the Parliament because current prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi on Monday, said he would remain in office, despite an order by the country's Supreme Court that lawmakers sit to appoint a new leader, Reuters reported. Head of the state Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II cancelled the session, where a new prime minister would be chosen. The Supreme Court called cancelling the parliament session ass unlawful.
The nation’s Supreme Court, last week, overruled an attempt by Vaaletoa Sualauvi II to void results of the April elections.
Mata’afa’s and supporters of the opposition party sang songs from Samoa’s independent movement as they gathered outside the parliament.
Faith in the One True God (FAST) Party’s win in April ended the nearly 40-year rule by the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), which has been in power since 1982.
Samoa won freedom from New Zeland in 1962.
