On Thursday, Solomon Islands lawmakers elected Jeremiah Manele as their new prime minister, thereby promoting the former foreign minister who has vowed to uphold the Pacific Island nation’s international policy that aligned it with China. Manele secured 31 votes against Opposition leader Matthew Wales’ 18 votes in the 50-seat parliament, as announced by Governor General Sir David Vunagi outside the parliament house.
Following a national election last month, the Solomon Islands government of incumbent Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare lost half of its seats, failing to secure a majority for any political party. In the lead-up to the prime ministerial vote, both government and opposition parties engaged in extensive lobbying efforts to gain support from independents.
As newly elected lawmakers convened at parliament on Thursday for the secret ballot, police bolstered security in the capital Honiara. The election drew significant attention from China, the U.S., and neighbouring Australia due to its potential implications for regional security, especially following Sogavare’s controversial security pact with China in 2022. Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed anticipation for close collaboration with Manele, emphasizing the strong ties between Australia and Solomon Islands.
In a social media post, Albanese underscored, “Australia and Solomon Islands are close friends, and our futures are intertwined.” Meanwhile, China’s embassy expressed eagerness to enhance relations with Solomon Islands, aiming to deliver more benefits to the people through joint efforts. Sogavare, known for fostering strong relations with Beijing during his five-year tenure, opted not to seek re-election to the highest political office, with his party throwing its support behind Manele.
Wale’s coalition of opposition parties had previously criticized the deployment of Chinese police in the archipelago in 2022. Instead, they advocated for a return to closer ties with traditional aid donors like Australia and for accepting infrastructure aid from the United States.
