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Why Samoa's prime minister-elect was locked out of parliament

A close election result in Samoa has ushered in a new prime minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa - but the defeated candidate, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, refused to convene parliament on Monday to allow a transition of power, locking the prime minister-elect and her supporters out of the parliament building. This meant the winner had to be sworn in inside a tent, outside the building. Maina Vai, editor at Nofoilo Samoa Media, describes what happened.

Photo: Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, Prime Minister of Samoa Credit: Getty Images

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3 minutes