Samoa is in full swing of political campaigning as the country readies for next month's general election.
A record 191 candidates were standing, and seven political parties were registered.
The island nation was plunged into turmoil at the last vote as the former Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) Government refused to concede power — triggering months of court battles.
Current Caretaker Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa said it was "going to be an interesting election", and hoped it would not be as turbulent as the last one.
She was sworn in as Prime Minister in a marquee outside parliament in 2021 — which had been locked to prevent her and the Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party getting in.
The bad blood started when Fiame and other MP's resigned over HRPP's three controversial bills which changed the Constitution and critics said weakened the independence of the judiciary.
"Essentially a power grab, you know, sort of political interference with the independence of the courts," she told 1News.
She and her FAST party Government have since reversed those bills — but earlier this year her reign hit the rocks.
Fiame sacked fellow minister and the chairman of the FAST party La'auli Leuatea Schmidt after he was hit with multiple criminal charges.
This led to her expulsion from the party, the splintering of the Government and the birth of her Samoa Uniting Party.
It was hardly surprising that a big part of her election platform was the rule of law and stability.
"We can't veer to the dark side, you know this is my mission is to have governance that can provide protection and equal opportunity for everyone but it has to have that very firm legal base," she said.
A priority was a Samoa "where one; people want to value it as their country. Two; will want to contribute to its growth. And three; that they will stay," she said.
Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver told Breakfast why tensions are high following the dramatic fallout from the last vote. (Source: Breakfast)
Her former sacked minister La'auli, who was now campaigning against her with his FAST party, won't know his political future until the outcome of his court case.
The charges against him include conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, harassment and fabricating evidence.
But he and his party have a strong support base and is pledging a populist agenda including cash allowances for all pregnant women, children and poor families, free nappies, hundreds of millions investment into the national airline and a new hospital.
Former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi hoped to win back power with his Human Rights Protection Party.
He was Prime Minister for 22 of the nearly 40 years his party was in leadership.
"We are indeed confident on the popularity of our own camp," he said.
The party promised to lift people out of poverty, including a $300 cash grab for each family member annually and an increase in pension and disability payments.
"Our priority is to ease the suffering of our people and get the economy back on track and as well generate growth and prosperity," he said.
The people will speak with their vote on election day - August 29.
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