Political campaigning is already well underway Kiribati with eight weeks until the election.
Photo: Shifani Sood
One prominent newcomer is a former lecturer at the University of the South Pacific, Teweiariki Tearo.
He has prioritised education and traditional customs in his campaigning speeches in the village Manebas on South Tarawa.
Mr Tearo says he resigned from the university primarily to allow him to campaign.