Wellington, New Zealand (Associated Press)-Samoa fell into a constitutional crisis on Monday when the woman who won the election last month was excluded from parliament, while the previous leader claimed he was still in power.

The fast-moving event marks the latest turning point in a fierce power struggle since the small Pacific nation was elected its first female leader. Samoa’s peace and stability are not only threatened, but also its relations with China.

On Monday morning, Prime Minister-elect Naomi Mata’afa (Naomi Mata’afa) and his supporters appeared in Parliament to form a new government, but were barred from entering the new government.

The National Supreme Court earlier ordered Congress to convene a meeting. The constitution stipulates that legislators must meet within 45 days after the election, and Monday is the last day of the day.

But Tuilaepa Seleele Marieleguewai, who served as prime minister for 22 years before the unexpected defeat of the general election, does not seem to be ready to give up power. He is already one of the longest-serving leaders in the world.

Two powerful allies have been supporting Tuilayepa.

The country’s head of state Tuimalealiifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II wrote in the announcement last week that he suspended the parliament “for reasons that I will announce in due course”. On Sunday, the speaker of Parliament supported him.

After Fiame was blocked on Monday, Tuilaepa held a press conference announcing that his government would remain in power.

Samoan journalist Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson will translate it back and forth into English on Twitter.

Tuilayepa said at a press conference: “Even if we are only the custodian government, Samoa has only one government. We will continue to hold this position and continue to operate as usual.”

At the same time, Fiame told her supporters: “We will meet again in that House for some time. Let’s leave it to the law.”

Fiame’s election victory is not only seen as a milestone for conservatives and Christians in Samoa, but it is also a milestone for the South Pacific, which has few female leaders.

Fiame, who advocated women’s equality, was born in 1957. He embarked on a new path during the election campaign and strongly criticized the incumbent parliamentarians.

According to the news broadcaster RNZ, she has pledged to stop the $100 million port development plan backed by Beijing, saying that the project is too high for a country that already has heavy debts to China.

Fiam said that she intends to maintain a good relationship with China, but there are more pressing needs to be resolved.

Last month’s election initially ended with a 25-25 tie between Fiame’s FAST party and Tuilaepa’s HRP party, with an independent candidate.

The independent candidate chose to participate in the election with Fiame, but at the same time, the election commissioner appointed another HRP candidate, stating that he must meet the gender quota.

That is 26-26.

The head of state subsequently stepped in to announce a new election to break the tie. The 200,000 national elections scheduled to be held last week.

However, Fiame’s party appealed, and the Supreme Court failed to rule on the appointed candidates and the new election plan, which restored the FAST party to a 26-25 majority.