The Solomon Islands’ incumbent prime minister, Manasseh Sogavare, retained his seat in Saturday’s results, but it will be several days before votes are counted to determine whether his party can form the next government.
Wednesday’s national election was Sogavare’s first since signing a security pact with China in 2022, bringing the Pacific island nation closer to Beijing. The move concerned the United States and Australia because of its potential implications for regional security.
Police and defense forces from Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji are assisting with election security.
The full results of the 50-member parliament are expected to be known next week, indicating whether any party has achieved a majority or whether coalition negotiations are needed to elect the prime minister.
A number of independent candidates have won previous elections, leading to a fluid coalition.
The results of the national and local elections held in the Solomon Islands will be announced over the next few days. Electoral President Jasper Hywood Anisi said vote counting was slow, but the integrity of the process was paramount to maintain public trust, and ballot boxes were under heavy police security. said.
According to official results, Sogavare won 49% of the vote in the East Choiseul constituency, ahead of United Party candidate David Cruz’s 42%.
Former opposition leader Matthew Wale of the Solomon Islands Democratic Party has retained his seat in Aoke, Malaita province, broadcaster SIBC reported on Saturday.
Daniel Suidani, a prominent critic of China who served as Malaita provincial premier until he was ousted in a no-confidence vote in 2023, has been re-elected to the Malaita provincial parliament, officials announced.
As premier, he was ousted by lawmakers for banning Chinese companies from Malaita, the Solomon Islands’ most populous province, accepting U.S. development aid and then refusing to recognize China.
Mr Suidani said the victory showed Malaita voters wanted a change of government.
“They are trying to save the state from bad leadership and corruption,” he said, adding that the final number of seats in the state legislature was not yet clear.
This month, China dispatched its top envoy for the South Pacific to Malaita province and signed a memorandum of understanding with Malaita province’s incumbent prime minister, Martin Fini.
Mr. Fini is currently without a seat in the state House of Representatives, according to election officials.
