Samoa’s Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, has firmly rejected claims he is setting himself up to be appointed the Head of State.

The claim has surfaced after the government tabled the Constitution Amendment Bill, which seeks to change the way the Head of State in Samoa is elected.

If it becomes law, the Bill means the government of the day will appoint the Head of State, instead of the full parliament.

The tabling of the Bill has led to claims from the opposition Tautua Samoa Party, as well as the ruling Human Rights Protection Party, that the prime minister is setting himself up for the position in the future.

But Tuilaepa dismissed the claims.

“It just shows how shallow they are to suggest such nonsense,” Tuilaepa told the media last week.

Tuilaepa said the amendment will bring Samoa’s system into line with democracies like Australia and New Zealand.

“We are no different now from what takes place in New Zealand or Australia where the government in power recommends the governor-general,” he told the ABC’s Pacific Beat.

He said the existing provision for selecting a head of state is an outdated relic and needs to be modernised to meet Samoa’s current political landscape.

“When the government was set up following independence, we did not have any party politics at the time – and therefore the election of the head of state was simply like choosing a president of a rugby team or a cricket team, somebody recommends and another would second the motion,” he said.

“That existing provision, which was alright in the early years of our parliament, could result in up to 49 nominations, which would be quite untidy.”

He has dismissed the opposition’s claims that he is setting himself up to become head of state when he tires of being prime minister.

“In democracies like Australia and New Zealand, the governor-general is only a figurehead.

“There is no challenge and to become a prime minister is of greater significance than becoming a governor-general.”

When the Samoa Observer asked the prime minister to elaborate, he said: “If you go to a family and they are frying corn beef, all you want to do is take the corn beef.”

Tuilaepa said to suggest that he wants to become the Head of State is like rejecting corn beef and instead asking for a can of herring.

The prime minister was responding to opposition leader Palusalue Fa’apo II, who said the only reason Tuilaepa is changing the Constitution is because of his own desire to become the Head of State.

“If the Prime Minister has any respect for our Head of State – past and current – he should move away from the subject.”

Deputy leader of the opposition, A’eau Peniamina Leavaise’eta supported Palusalue: “If the party of the day nominates the Head of State, he would be called by people as that party’s Head of State.

“Its dignity is within parliament. Why should one party decide on the Head of State and not parliament that represents the whole country?”