The first female Prime Minister of Samoa declared a "new day" on Saturday after her government began work following a top court's decision that ended her nation's 15-week constitutional crisis.

Samoa's political problems began when outgoing premier Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi lost elections in April and resisted resigning after 22 years in office. He maintained that he was "appointed by God,"&nbsp;to stay in office.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/court-ends-samoa-constitutional-deadlock-declares-new-pm-400184">Court ends Samoa constitutional deadlock, declares new PM</a>

However, Samoa's Appeal court ruled on Friday that his party had illegally occupied government offices; following this on Saturday he was reported to have started removing his personal effects from the premises.&nbsp;

During an extraordinary ceremony in May, Mata'afa was sworn into the office inside a makeshift tent, after her political party, FAST was locked out of the Parliament building.

The appeal court Samoan court declared that the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) did not have the authority to act as a caretaker government. It also overturned a previous decision by the country's supreme court, that termed Mata'afa's swearing-in as unconstitutional.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/appointed-by-god-samoan-leader-defiant-after-vote-387463">'Appointed by God': Samoan leader defiant after vote</a>

In her first public appearance since the verdict, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa said, "It is a new day".

"Today, I and cabinet met with key officials to begin transition of our new government into office," she said, adding that her cabinet would formally take office on Tuesday.&nbsp;

There was a heavy police presence outside the parliament building and Press personnel was not allowed into the building.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/fiame-naomi-mataafa-sworn-in-as-samoas-first-female-pm-387084/embed" width="560"></iframe>

According to the ruling, Mata'afa's FAST Party,&nbsp;which was formed just a few months before the election&nbsp;has been the legitimate government since May 24.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The first female Prime Minister of Samoa declared a "new day" on Saturday after her government began work following a top court's decision that ended her nation's 15-week constitutional crisis.

The first female Prime Minister of Samoa declared a "new day" on Saturday after her government began work following a top court's decision that ended her nation's 15-week constitutional crisis. Samoa's political problems began when outgoing premier Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi lost elections in April and resisted resigning after 22 years in office. He maintained that he was "appointed by God," to stay in office. Also read | Court ends Samoa constitutional deadlock, declares new PM However, Samoa's Appeal court ruled on Friday that his party had illegally occupied government offices; following this on Saturday he was reported to have started removing his personal effects from the premises. During an extraordinary ceremony in May, Mata'afa was sworn into the office inside a makeshift tent, after her political party, FAST was locked out of the Parliament building. The appeal court Samoan court declared that the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) did not have the authority to act as a caretaker government. It also overturned a previous decision by the country's supreme court, that termed Mata'afa's swearing-in as unconstitutional. Also read | 'Appointed by God': Samoan leader defiant after vote In her first public appearance since the verdict, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa said, "It is a new day". "Today, I and cabinet met with key officials to begin transition of our new government into office," she said, adding that her cabinet would formally take office on Tuesday. There was a heavy police presence outside the parliament building and Press personnel was not allowed into the building. According to the ruling, Mata'afa's FAST Party, which was formed just a few months before the election has been the legitimate government since May 24. (With inputs from agencies)

'New day' for Samoa as government gets to work months late

A top Samoan court on Friday ended a 15-week constitutional crisis, confirming Fiame&nbsp;Naomi&nbsp;Mata'afa&nbsp;as the Pacific island nation's first woman prime minister.

The country has been in a political deadlock since April when long-ruling Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi narrowly lost in elections and refused to cede power.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ousted-samoa-pm-refuses-to-cede-power-despite-election-loss-387003">Ousted Samoa PM refuses to cede power, despite election loss</a>

In May,&nbsp;Mata'afa&nbsp;was sworn in at an extraordinary ceremony inside a makeshift tent after her FAST party was locked out of the parliament building.

Samoa's Appeal Court said it did not recognise Malielegaoi's caretaker government, ruling that his Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) was occupying government offices unlawfully.&nbsp;

It also overturned a previous Supreme Court decision that the tent swearing-in was unconstitutional.

"It is now for the new prime minister and her government to give effect to this judgment and the declaration contained within," the Appeal Court said.

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"We declare that the swearing in carried out on May 24, 2021 at the Tiafau Malae of elected members of parliament, to be consistent with the terms of the constitution, the supreme law of Samoa, and therefore lawful."

The ruling, which came in response to an appeal by the FAST party, said Samoa now has a lawful government.

"For the avoidance of doubt, this means there has been a lawful government in Samoa since May 24, 2021, and that lawful government is the FAST party which holds the majority of the seats in parliament," the court said.

Samoa's politics have been embroiled in controversy and legal challenges since the election, which ended with&nbsp;Mata'afa's FAST party holding 26 seats, one more than the HRPP in the 51-seat parliament.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/appointed-by-god-samoan-leader-defiant-after-vote-387463">'Appointed by God': Samoan leader defiant after vote</a>

The HRPP had been in power for nearly 40 years with the 76-year-old Malielegaoi, who claimed he was "appointed by God", spending 22 years as prime minister.

A top Samoan court on Friday ended a 15-week constitutional crisis, confirming Fiame Naomi Mata'afa as the Pacific island nation's first woman prime minister. The country has been in a political deadlock since April when long-ruling Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi narrowly lost in elections and refused to cede power.

A top Samoan court on Friday ended a 15-week constitutional crisis, confirming Fiame Naomi Mata'afa as the Pacific island nation's first woman prime minister. The country has been in a political deadlock since April when long-ruling Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi narrowly lost in elections and refused to cede power. Also read | Ousted Samoa PM refuses to cede power, despite election loss In May, Mata'afa was sworn in at an extraordinary ceremony inside a makeshift tent after her FAST party was locked out of the parliament building. Samoa's Appeal Court said it did not recognise Malielegaoi's caretaker government, ruling that his Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) was occupying government offices unlawfully. It also overturned a previous Supreme Court decision that the tent swearing-in was unconstitutional. "It is now for the new prime minister and her government to give effect to this judgment and the declaration contained within," the Appeal Court said. "We declare that the swearing in carried out on May 24, 2021 at the Tiafau Malae of elected members of parliament, to be consistent with the terms of the constitution, the supreme law of Samoa, and therefore lawful." The ruling, which came in response to an appeal by the FAST party, said Samoa now has a lawful government. "For the avoidance of doubt, this means there has been a lawful government in Samoa since May 24, 2021, and that lawful government is the FAST party which holds the majority of the seats in parliament," the court said. Samoa's politics have been embroiled in controversy and legal challenges since the election, which ended with Mata'afa's FAST party holding 26 seats, one more than the HRPP in the 51-seat parliament. Also read | 'Appointed by God': Samoan leader defiant after vote The HRPP had been in power for nearly 40 years with the 76-year-old Malielegaoi, who claimed he was "appointed by God", spending 22 years as prime minister.

Court ends Samoa constitutional deadlock, declares new PM

Fiame Naomi Mata'afa sworn in as Samoa's first woman Prime Minister at an makeshift ceremony, after the islands' long-serving ruler refused to cede power and locked the doors of parliament.

Fiame Naomi Mata'afa sworn in as Samoa's first female PM