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Allegiances to China at the heart of parliamentary elections in Solomon Islands
Pacific: Solomon Islands
Primer on parliamentary election in the Solomon Islands
(April 17, 2024)
General elections were held in Solomon Islands on April 17, 2024, to establish a new parliament. Originally scheduled for 2023, the elections were postponed after Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare argued that holding them concurrently with the Pacific Games, hosted by Solomon Islands that year, would be financially burdensome. This decision faced criticism from the opposition, who viewed it as a power grab by Sogavare.
Another prevailing theme surrounding the election was the country’s allegiance to China - something embraced by the incumbent prime minister but rejected by other members of parliament and political leaders. The election, the first since Sogavare's security pact with China in 2022, raised concerns about regional security among the United States and Australia.
The integrity of the electoral process was viewed as a priority. As such, international assistance from countries like Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji had been deployed to ensure election security.
On election day, the people of the Solomon Islands went to the polls to cast their votes. But in the interests of protecting the integrity of the election, the vote counting was proceeding slowly and being conducted under heavy police security.
Once the initial votes were tallied, it was apparent that Sogavare was on track to secure his parliamentary seat, winning close to 49 percent in his constituency. Former opposition leader Matthew Wale also retained his seat. Daniel Suidani, known for his anti-China stance, won re-election in the Malaita provincial assembly, reflecting a desire for change among voters.
The formation of the next government remained uncertain pending the final vote count. Results for the 50-member parliament were expected in late April 2024 and would determine whether a majority had been achieved or coalition negotiations would be necessary.
Independent candidates often play a significant role in the formation of governments in the Solomon islands, leading to fluid coalitions in previous elections.
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