The Pacific country of about 219,000 people faces another election after a turbulent political period. Fiame survived two no-confidence motions in February and March but called a May election when her minority government failed to pass a national budget. Opponents accused her of being unfit for office. Widespread April blackouts led to a state of emergency and intensified scrutiny, compounding inflationary pressures on the economy. Fiame's 2021 term began amid a knife-edge result, legal challenges and 45 days without a functioning government; she was sworn in outside parliament after being locked out. A total of 187 candidates across six parties contest 50 seats in an unpredictable race.
Fiame survived two no-confidence motions in the span of two weeks in February and March, but was forced to call the election in May when her minority government was unable to pass its national budget. Her opponents in parliament accused her of being unfit for office. Her leadership also came under pressure in April when widespread blackouts prompted a state of emergency and intensified scrutiny of Fiame's leadership.
Fiame's term got off to a rocky start in 2021 after a knife-edge election result led to legal challenges and constitutional manoeuvring that left the country without a functioning government for 45 days. The country's first female prime minister was sworn in under a marquee outside parliament after being locked out of the chamber. Nobody wants the repetition of what happened in 2021, broadcaster Tui Eddie Taualapini said. People just want a government to be established quickly and bring in the budget.
Anna Powles, associate professor at Massey University, said the contest was shaping up to be unpredictable, with a cast of old and new politicians and parties. She said the race was centred on three frontrunners for the top job: Fiame, now leading the Samoa Uniting party (Sup), after breaking away from Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (Fast). Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, the 81-year-old leader of the Human Rights Protection party (HRPP) and long-serving former prime minister.
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