Samoa PM apologises over 2007 video showing Nazi salute at family gathering
In short
Samoa's Prime Minister La'auli Leuatea Schmidt acknowledged and apologised on 5 October for a Nazi salute he gave at a family gathering in 2007, after video of the incident emerged in local media. In a statement he said he rejects Nazism, antisemitism, racism and all political extremism, and said the act did not reflect his beliefs, his government or the values of the country. He was deputy speaker of parliament at the time and indicated he intends to stay in office to work on economic recovery.
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Samoa's Prime Minister La'auli Leuatea Schmidt apologised on 5 October after video emerged of him giving a Nazi salute at a family gathering in 2007. In a statement issued the same day he said the act was “inappropriate” and offered an apology. He holds the foreign affairs and trade portfolio as well as the premiership. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
According to Jiji Press and Sankei Shimbun, both citing the local newspaper Samoa Observer, the footage shows the prime minister, then deputy speaker of parliament, with one hand on a microphone praising Adolf Hitler and urging those around him to join in. Jiji Press reported that he raised his right arm diagonally and shouted “Heil Hitler,” prompting others present to repeat it. Sankei Shimbun said the clip runs about seven seconds and that what happened immediately before and after it is not clear. [ 1 , 2 ]
In his statement, the prime minister said the act did not reflect his convictions or the values of his government and people, and stressed that he rejects “Nazism, antisemitism, racism and all forms of political extremism,” according to Jiji Press and Sankei Shimbun. Jiji Press reported that he expressed his intention to remain in office in order to work on economic recovery and other issues. [ 1 , 2 ]
Jiji Press noted that Samoa was at one point a German territory up to the period of the First World War. The reports do not state where the 2007 gathering was held, and none of the documents record any political reaction inside Samoa, such as criticism from opponents or calls for the prime minister to step down. [ 1 ]
The outlets render the prime minister's name differently: Jiji Press and Sankei Shimbun use ラアウリアレマリエトア, while the CNN report carried by Yahoo! News Japan gives the surname as シュミット alongside the same given names, and describes him leading a “Heil Hitler” chant at the 2007 family gathering. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The incident puts the conduct of a serving Pacific head of government and foreign minister into a historical controversy that local media surfaced through an old video, prompting a formal apology. The documents do not report any calls for resignation or other political reaction, and the prime minister said he intends to remain in office.
Key facts
- Samoa's Prime Minister La'auli Leuatea Schmidt said on 5 October that a Nazi salute he gave at a family gathering in 2007 was “inappropriate” and apologised for it. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The salute was captured in video that emerged in local media; the Samoa Observer reported on it, according to Jiji Press and Sankei Shimbun. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Sankei Shimbun said the video runs about seven seconds and that what happened immediately before and after it is not clear. [ 2 ]
- The prime minister, also foreign and trade minister, said in his statement that he rejects Nazism, antisemitism and racism and all forms of political extremism. [ 1 , 2 ]
- He said the act did not reflect his own beliefs or the values of his government and people. [ 2 ]
- He was deputy speaker of parliament at the time of the incident, according to Jiji Press and Sankei Shimbun. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Jiji Press reported that he showed his intention to stay in office to work on economic recovery and other issues. [ 1 ]
- Jiji Press noted that Samoa was at one time a German territory up to the First World War period. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The prime minister acknowledged the 2007 Nazi salute and apologised for it. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The incident took place at a family or relatives' gathering in 2007. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The prime minister was deputy speaker of parliament at the time. [ 1 , 2 ]
- His apology statement said he rejects Nazism and antisemitism. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The video footage was the basis for the reports, which cited the local newspaper Samoa Observer. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- The city or specific place where the 2007 gathering took place. No document states a location for the event; Jiji's Sydney dateline refers to the reporter, not the venue.
- What happened immediately before and after the brief video clip. Sankei Shimbun explicitly says the footage is short and the surrounding context is not clear.
- Whether the incident has drawn any political reaction, criticism from opponents or calls for resignation. No document reports any reaction from Samoan political figures or parties.
- The prime minister's name is rendered differently across outlets. Jiji Press and Sankei Shimbun write ラアウリアレマリエトア; the CNN report carried by Yahoo! News Japan gives the surname as シュミット (Schmidt) alongside the same given names.
- How the video surfaced or who recorded it. Documents say the footage emerged or leaked, but do not identify the source.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Jiji Press reports the Samoa Observer's account of the 2007 video and the prime minister's statement of apology the same day. [ 1 ]
- Sankei Shimbun reports that the prime minister admitted the Nazi salute and apologised, citing the roughly seven-second video. [ 2 ]
- Yahoo! News Japan carries a CNN report on the apology, describing the prime minister leading a “Heil Hitler” chant at the 2007 family gathering. [ 4 ]