Manuel Zelaya vs Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi

Zelaya was elected president as the candidate of the Liberal Party, defeating Porfirio Pepe Lobo. His campaign focused on poverty reduction and social programs, and he initially governed as a centrist before shifting leftward.

Zelaya aligned Honduras with the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), led by Venezuela's Hugo Ch

Zelaya was ousted in a military coup and forced into exile in Costa Rica. The coup occurred after he pushed for a non-binding referendum on constitutional reform, which was deemed illegal by the Supreme Court. The OAS and UN condemned the coup.

Malielegaoi succeeded Tofilau Eti Alesana as Prime Minister, becoming the leader of the HRPP. He would go on to serve for 22 years, the longest continuous tenure of any Pacific leader.

Malielegaoi's government passed legislation to register customary land titles, aiming to formalize land ownership and facilitate economic development. The act faced opposition from traditional leaders who saw it as undermining customary systems.

Malielegaoi's government implemented a change from driving on the right to driving on the left, aligning Samoa with Australia and New Zealand. The switch aimed to reduce import costs for vehicles and improve road safety.

Malielegaoi's HRPP lost the general election to the FAST party led by Naomi Mataafa. He initially refused to concede, leading to a constitutional crisis that was resolved by the Court of Appeal, ending his long tenure.