Samoa’s first woman leader is ousted in an election following the collapse of her government

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Samoa’s incumbent ruling party will return to power with a new leader at the helm after the first woman prime minister was toppled in elections that followed months of political turmoil.

FAST, the former political party of ousted leader Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa, will remain in the majority when Parliament resumes in the Pacific Island nation on Sept. 16. But the result will usher in a new prime minister following bitter infighting in the party this year.

La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt, who now leads FAST, is expected to be confirmed as the next prime minister.

Fiamē, who led Samoa since 2021, in January sacked La’aulialemalietoa as a cabinet minister after he was charged with criminal offenses. La’aulialemalietoa, also the FAST party chairman, i