Solomon Islands Prime Minister Ousted in No-Confidence Vote

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele lost power in a no-confidence vote in parliament on Thursday, ending months of political uncertainty in the South Pacific nation. The vote passed 22-26. Parliament was adjourned immediately afterward to allow the governor general to make arrangements for the election of a new prime minister.

Ahead of the vote, Manele criticized the country's court for setting what he called a dangerous precedent by ruling that lawmakers must meet for the no-confidence motion. He had avoided the motion for seven weeks until an appeal court ordered parliament to convene by 7 May. Manele was elected in 2024.

There was a heavy police presence around parliament as two groups of lawmakers arrived in separate buses. The new opposition coalition of six political parties showed it commanded 27 seats in the 50-seat chamber.

A former foreign minister who quit the cabinet in March told parliament that Manele had shown weak leadership. He said ministers had conferred favors to business cronies and that a lack of transparency included no audit reports for large sums of government and donor money spent to host the 2024 Pacific Games and last year’s Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting.

The International Monetary Fund raised concerns over accountability, lack of audit reports and the need for anti-corruption reforms in March.

Manele said it was the first time he had heard the complaints about his leadership. “I am greatly disappointed, literally not having time to prepare a response to these reasons and allegations,” he said.

Debt to China for infrastructure projects doubled last year, according to budget documents. In 2022 the country signed a security pact with China that prompted concern from the United States, Australia and other Pacific neighbors. Changes of leader in the strategically located archipelago are closely watched by China and Western diplomats.

Manele was elected on the floor of parliament in 2024 by a coalition of parties that formed government after a national election did not deliver a clear majority to any single party.