Three new Members of the Council of Deputies were announced in the Parliament on Tuesday morning with the incumbent member's term ending.

The three new Council of Deputies are Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, Malietoa Moli II and Le Laulu Tiatia Mapesone Mapusua. 

Le Mamea Ropati Mualia is the sole incumbent member of the Council of Deputies, having begun his term in office in February 2016.  

Speaker Papalii Lio Masipau made the announcement in the House when it reconvened for the last sitting of 2024, rising early this morning for a prayer service. 

Papalii said the new appointment will be effective in January next year while the incumbent will conclude his tenure by the end of this month. 

Le Mamea has not been reappointed, and the election of the three new Council of Deputies completes the maximum number of people who can hold office under the Constitution. 

Tui Atua was the former Head of State from 2007 until 2017 when a controversial move by the former administration saw the Legislative Assembly vote 23 to 15 electing the new Head of State, Tuimalealiifano Sualauvi Vaaletoa II. 

A 2019 amendment to the Constitution limits the tenure of office for the Head of State to no more than two terms.    

Another member of the Council of Deputies is Malietoa Moli II, the son of the former Head of State the late Malietoa Tanumafili II. 

Malietoa Moli II was bestowed the prestigious title after it was vacant for more than a decade enduring many court cases over his selection and appointment. 

Le Laulu from Gataivai Savaii is the son of the former Member of Parliament for Palauli le Falefa, Mapusua Malo in 1967 sitting when the Legislative Assembly consisted of 47 members.