It is amazing how politics in Samoa never ceases to amaze. Just when you think that nothing new will happen, a new twist appears. Now the opposition has stepped up its call for the prime minister to step down.

The roller coaster that started after Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi party chairman Laauli Leuatea Schmidt was charged has now spiralled into the opposition Human Rights Protection Party asking for Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa to resign. Fiame is now facing a vote of no confidence when parliament sits on Tuesday.

Fiame has fired right back and said she will not be taking that option and will remain to lead the government because this is what needs to be done. Fiame has said she was elected to govern and will not step down simply because Tuilaepa demands it.

Her statement further pointed to the existing legal framework that governs no-confidence motions.

"If he thinks he has the numbers, then let parliament decide. If not, then he should stop wasting everyone’s time with his usual distractions. Tuilaepa, stop misleading the public and take your fight where it belongs—inside the walls of Parliament."

Why has it taken HRPP so long to file a motion of no confidence? It seems that the HRPP and its seasoned politicians were hoping that FAST would bring about a demise among themselves but that has not happened. Instead, while the internal fighting goes on between the Laauli-led FAST and the FAST Government, none of the members of parliament want to dissolve the government.

No one will win if that scenario happens. Everyone wants to keep their place in parliament and have the benefits continue until the end of the parliamentary term, a year from now. The constitution allows the prime minister the most favourable outcome even if a vote of no confidence is passed.

HRPP is playing their cards on two fronts. They first filed a lawsuit seeking clarification if the prime minister could be the leader of the government if she no longer commands the majority. The court dates were set and it was supposed to have been last week but no one expected the stormy weather. The strong winds and heavy rain led to the courthouse postponing all matters.

Then on Thursday, the HRPP wrote to the Speaker of the House Papalii Lio Masipau and made their intent of the motion of no confidence known. The Speaker has to be impartial and therefore he allowed the motion to be put to the floor on Tuesday.

There are some reasons why the motion may not be successful. The first one has already been highlighted that none of the MPs would want to forego their seats and the benefits that come with it. Secondly, this would disrupt the rollout of the $1 million district grants and thirdly, the proposed amendments to the Electoral Act and the Lands and Titles Court would be stalled. The third reason is something that Laauli has already said was a promise that FAST wanted to deliver.

This game of political football has now gone into extra time with no one scoring the winner. The most important thing from the political game we are seeing now is understanding the laws. Political parties from both sides are using the fact that the majority do not understand or know what the Constitution and the Electoral Act say about vacation of seats, appointment of Cabinet and expulsion from parties and the powers of the prime minister.

Even if the parliament votes to have no confidence in the prime minister, she still has the last say and can still advise the Head of State and carry on with a caretaker government. In this scenario, everyone except the cabinet remains until an election is called.

Disrupting the government now also comes with its implications as the electoral register still needs to be updated and people are yet to register. It will be chaotic if we do head into an election but that all will depend on what happens on Tuesday.

Are our elected leaders acting for the good of the nation or themselves? It is slowly showing and more will be revealed in good time.