The outgoing Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands did not obtain an absolute majority following the elections, according to the results, still partial, on Monday April 22, which will force the pro-Beijing leader of the Pacific country to seek partners for a coalition.
Our Party, the formation of Manasseh Sogavare, won 12 seats, while six are still at stake, according to the provisional results of Wednesday’s vote, reported by public radio and television, placing it far from a majority in Parliament, which has 50 seats.
The upcoming negotiations for a coalition should be closely followed by the major powers, because they could have significant consequences on Beijing’s intentions in the South Pacific. Mr. Sogavare signed a security pact with Beijing in 2022 and enabled the rapid expansion of Chinese interests in the impoverished Pacific archipelago.
Mr Sogavare’s two main rival parties, which between them hold 12 seats, have spoken out in favor of reducing China’s influence. The rest of the seats were obtained by independent elected officials or small parties, whose allegiances are unpredictable.
Outburst of violence
Over the next few days, party representatives will meet to try to form a majority. Choosing a prime minister, a closed-door process, can take several weeks.
Election periods can be tense in the archipelago, with previous elections having resulted in riots. Last weekend, police suppressed an outbreak of violence between two villages on the island of Malaita, sparked by the local election result. A group of men damaged “a water source, a church building and homes” in a nearby village after an argument related to the voting results, according to police.
