Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
Samoa's head of state has declared a 30-day state of emergency due to a financial crisis triggered by the failure to pass an Approbriation Bill, as outlined under the country's constitution.
Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aleto'a Eti Sualauvi II has issued a Proclamation of Emergency - dated 26 September - under Article 105 of Samoa's Constitution.
The Emergency Budget, effective from 30 September to 29 October, will allow government to access funds from the Treasury to ensure government operations continue.
According to the government's Savali Newspaper, the failure to pass Appropriation Bill earlier this year led to an early election and the government entering caretaker mode, leading to the country operating on 25 percent of the budget for the next financial year.
Samoa's new government was sworn in on 16 September.
Acting Prime Minister Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molio'o said parliament is set to meet in the second week of October to table its main budget.
During the 30 days emergency perdiod, the Ministry of Finance will work on producing the main budget.
The state of emergency has the "sole purpose of issuing out of the Treasury fund such money as is necessary to meet the economic emergency".
