The Solomon Islands, a small island nation in Oceania with a population of around 720 thousand, has elected Jeremiah Manele as its prime minister. Manele won 31 out of 50 votes in a secret ballot in Parliament, defeating his rival Mathew Wale, who had advocated for a loosening of ties with Beijing.
Manele expressed his delight at the outcome and stated that he was relieved that the vote occurred without any violence. “Today we showed the world that we are better than this,” he said. The Solomon Islands have a history of election-related riots, including the kidnapping of Prime Minister Bart Ulufa’alu by armed individuals in 2000 and an international contingent being deployed to prevent riots during elections in 2006.
Manele served as foreign minister in 2019 and oversaw the shift of the Solomon Islands away from Taiwan towards establishing diplomatic relations with Beijing. Analysts predict that Manele will continue the policy of closer ties with China initiated by his predecessor, Manasseh Sogavare, who did not seek reelection. However, concerns have been raised by the United States and Australia regarding a security agreement signed with China in 2022, fearing the potential establishment of a permanent Chinese military base in the South Pacific.
In his plans for governance, Manele has promised a “government of national unity” focused on economic revitalization and progress towards recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Among the priorities outlined by the new government are a reform of the value-added tax and the establishment of a special economic zone.
