With respect, this call by the leader of the 20 members of the Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) political party, Laauli Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt, and his group is highly unrealistic. To ask the Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, to voluntarily hand over power after sacking her from FAST is, to say the least, highly problematic.

The problem arises because it is against human nature to expect people to act reasonably against unreasonsable behaviour. To give Laauli the prime ministership is also unreasonable as he does not 'command the confidence of the House."

Tooth for a tooth and eye for an eye were the rules of old before turning the other cheek was propounded and sometimes followed.

The proper course is to move a motion of no confidence in Fiame's leadership and make her ask for a dissolution of parliament if the motion is passed.

To say that it is unfair to force the country to bear the costs of a snap general election is invalid because the next general election is next year anyway and all a snap election means is bringing forward that general election by a few months.

To claim that the FAST Party currently has the majority of MPs in parliament to form and continue the business of government if Fiame does the decent thing to resign as Prime Minister is bringing up his action when he was asked to resign from Cabinet when he was charged with certain criminal offences.

Was it the decent thing to refuse a directive from the head of the government? And was it the proper thing for a government official or any other official for that matter to do in a similar situation?

It would be interesting what the Speaker will say to the Leader of the Opposition, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, and his letter that there are now three parties in parliament and that the government has collapsed and is dysfunctional.

The HRPP Opposition is also reported to be seeking a court declaration on the legality of the minority now ruling government.

According to the Prime Minister minority governments are normal; the minority can rule as long as the other parties do not move a motion of no confidence in the government or are defeated in a matter of confidence - such as a budget for example. So as long as no motion of confidence is moved then Fiame and her minority part of the FAST party can govern until the next general election in 2026.

Ia manuia lava le vaiaso fou.