The incumbent HRPP government was under criticism for its mishandling of the 2019 Samoa measles outbreak.[15] In May 2020, MP Laauli Leuatea Polataivao was expelled from the HRPP after voting against the controversial ‘Land and Titles’ amendment bill.[16] Polataivao announced that he had resigned and later formed the FAST party to contest the 2021 general election.[17] His departure from the HRPP was later followed by other members of the HRPP caucus including Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, who resigned as deputy prime minister, also in protest of the Land and Titles bill.[18] In August 2020, Polataivao successfully contested the by election in his constituency of Gagaifomauga No. 3, and was re-elected to parliament as the FAST party's sole MP.[19] Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, who was invited to join FAST upon her resignation from the HRPP, opted to remain an Independent.[20] She would not join FAST until after the dissolution of parliament.[21] At the dissolution of the 16th Parliament the HRPP occupied 44 seats, Tautua had two seats, FAST had one and the remaining three were held by Independents.[22]