Solomon Islands pro-China PM Manasseh Sogavare fails to secure majority
Al Jazeera
Sogavare vies with opposition parties to form governing coalition after inconclusive election.
The Solomon Islands election has delivered no clear winner leaving pro-China Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in a race with rival opposition politicians to form a coalition to lead the Pacific island nation.
Solomon Islanders voted a week ago in a closely fought campaign that was the first since Sogavare switched diplomatic ties from Taipei to Beijing in 2019 and later agreed upon a controversial security pact with China.
Election results on Wednesday showed Sogavare’s OUR party won 15 out of 50 seats in the national parliament, while major opposition parties secured 20, and independent and micro-parties 15.
United party leader Peter Kenilorea Jr, who has promised to switch ties back to Taiwan, and Democratic Alliance Party leader Rick Hou told the Reuters news agency the situation was fluid as politicians lobbied independents to secure the 26 seats needed to form a government.
Analysts previously told Al Jazeera that while the international community might be focused on China relations, Solomon Islanders were more concerned with “bread and butter” issues such as the cost of living, health and education.
