Solomon Islands lawmakers have elected former foreign minister Jeremiah Manele as their new prime minister, pledging to continue the Pacific island nation’s embrace of China.
Speaking outside parliament on Thursday, Manele said “the people have spoken out” and called for calm.
“I humbly stand before you as your elected prime minister. We must respect and uphold the democratic process,” Manele said.
Incumbent Manasseh Sogavare withdrew from the race earlier this week after failing to win a majority in last month’s election and endorsed Manele.
Manele was foreign minister in 2019, when the Sogavare government turned its back on Taiwan and established diplomatic relations with Beijing.
Police had tightened security in the capital, Honiara, as newly elected members arrived at parliament to hold a secret vote on Thursday.
The country’s governor, General David Vunagi, announced outside Parliament House that Manele had received 31 votes to opposition leader Matthew Wales’ 18 votes.
In April’s national election, no party could win a majority, and two camps worked to gain support from independent voters ahead of the prime minister’s vote.
The poll will be closely watched by China, the United States and neighboring Australia as it could have implications for regional security after former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare signed a security pact with China in 2022. There is.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese congratulated Mr Manele, saying: In the post of X“I look forward to working closely with him. Australia and the Solomon Islands are close friends and our futures are linked.”
Former Solomon Islands Australian diplomat and Lowy Institute researcher Mihai Sola said that compared to Sogavare, who was a “polarizing figure”, Manele was “a strong man who has worked well with all international partners”. He said he has a proven track record.
Our party, led by the new prime minister, won 15 seats with a pledge to further develop infrastructure, and won 4 seats in a new coalition with two smaller parties.
The party needed the support of independent voters to win a majority of 26 seats in the 50-seat parliament.
After the election, the prime minister and elected members of parliament will be sworn in, and the speaker will be elected.
Partnership with Reuters and Agence France-Presse
