Mahmoud Abbas vs Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi

As a key PLO negotiator, Abbas was instrumental in the secret talks that led to the Oslo Accords. He signed the Declaration of Principles on behalf of the PLO, establishing the Palestinian Authority and a framework for Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Following Yasser Arafat's death, Abbas was elected Chairman of the PLO. This position made him the central figure in Palestinian leadership, responsible for negotiations with Israel and internal Palestinian governance.

Abbas won the Palestinian presidential election with 62% of the vote. His election followed Arafat's death and was seen as a mandate for peace negotiations with Israel, though his term expired in 2009 without new elections.

After winning the 2006 Palestinian legislative election, Hamas forcibly seized control of the Gaza Strip from Fatah forces loyal to Abbas. This split the Palestinian territories into two rival governments: Fatah in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza.

Abbas formally submitted an application to the United Nations seeking full membership for the State of Palestine. The bid was not approved by the Security Council but led to Palestine being granted non-member observer state status in 2012.

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.