Samoa’s first female prime minister was targeted with a sexist verbal attack in parliament last week by a male MP who said her “leadership would have been remarkable” if she “had gotten married” and had someone to “advise” her.
It’s not the first time Fiame Naomi Mata’afa has weathered personal attacks, but the outrageous comments have since sparked debate surrounding gender roles in the country and the Pacific region in general.
In 2021, Fiame was elected prime minister after defeating the previous leader, who had ruled Samoa for 22 years. She’s risen to the top echelons of power in a region that holds the world’s lowest representation of female parliamentarians.
Her father was Samoa’s first prime minister, and she’s only the second female leader of an independent Pacific Island nation in history.
The 67-year-old was targeted with personal attacks from opponents within her party during a session of parliament last week.
MP Fuiono Tenina Crichton, 74, was the man who told Fiame: “If only there was someone who could advise you. Your leadership would have been remarkable if you had gotten married and someone would advise you.”
Earlier, Fiame had fired Crichton as associate minister after he called for her removal from the party.
Back in January, Fiame also sacked her party’s chairman La’auli Leuatea Schmidt from her ministry, after he refused to stand down while facing criminal charges. His supporters then voted to expel her from the Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party and have been trying to replace her as prime minister since then.
The party members launched a no confidence vote, but Fiame emerged victorious for the second time in weeks.
A day later, Fiame held a rare press conference addressing the outcome.
“The recent decisions of parliament provide a clear response that my government has the confidence of the house to continue to lead the nation,” she said.
“This decision by parliament reflects the will of the people as represented by their elected members of parliament.”
Before the vote, La’auli—the man trying to oust her—was quoted by the Samoa Observer, saying “there’s always a better man.”
Fiame did not respond to the personal attack, as is her usual leadership style.
“She’s been in parliament for decades, so she’s heard everything under the sun,” said political commentator Tauili’ili Christian Malietoa-Brown. “She’s found the best way to address it is just not saying anything at all, and not giving it any oxygen.”