19 Jun 2007

Samoa to swear in new Head of State tomorrow afternoon

2:10 pm on 19 June 2007

Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, says the election unopposed of Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi as the new Head of State, is God's answer to the country's prayers.

Tuilaepa says 76 percent of the country's MPs have voted to nominate the former prime minister to become the next Head of State.

The Head of State elect will take his oath of office in a swearing in ceremony tomorrow afternoon to be followed by his first official address to the nation.

Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi will be in office for an initial five year term, but parliament may well extend this at the completion of that period.