Solomon Islands PM candidates: Matthew Wale and Peter Shanel Agovaka.
Photo: RNZ Pacific / Solomon Islands opposition
The Solomon Islands prime ministership race has become a two-man race after one of the three candidates nominated for the top job withdrew his nomination on Friday morning.
Solomon Islands MPs will vote today for the country’s new prime minister after the incumbent, Jeremiah Manele, lost a no-confidence vote in parliament last week, ending his tenure halfway through his four-year term.
The three men who were eyeing to succeed him were: Peter Shanel Agovaka who defected from Manele’s coalition to oust him and now has his endorsement; opposition leader Matthew Wale; and the leader of the independent MPs group, Manasseh Maelanga.
However, Clerk to Parliament Jefferson Hallu has confirmed to RNZ Pacific that Maelanga has written to the Governor-General Sir David Tiva Kapu to formally withdraw his nomination.
“I respectfully request that my name be removed from the list of candidates for the said election,” Maelanga said in his letter of withdrawal submitted at 7:30am local time Friday, ahead of the election of the new prime minister.
The leader of the independent MPs group, Manasseh Maelanga.
Photo: Facebook / O.U.R Party Solomon islands
How the vote will unfold
In an update on Thursday night, the National Parliament Office said the election of the prime minister will not be accessible to the public as it is not a parliamentary process.
“The election of the Prime Minister is not a Parliament sitting but ‘a meeting of Members’ to be conducted and presided by His Excellency the Governor-General. In other words, the process belongs to the Government House and not Parliament per se. It is an election meeting of Members as opposed to a Parliament sitting,” it stated.
“Section 6(3) of Schedule 2 to the Constitution states that – ‘No person other than the Governor-General, a member, or a public officer whose assistance is enlisted … shall be present at an election meeting.’
“Therefore, the conduct of the election is neither open to the public nor will it be broadcasted live.”
The Parliament Office added that access to the parliament precinct would be restricted, with priority given to diplomats, government officials, the media, and selected members of the public who will be expected to congregate at the eastern side of the precinct.
Hallu said the proceedings, which are run by Government House, will begin at 9:30am local time (10:30 NZT).
The vote itself will be conducted via secret ballot, with the winner being the first to secure a majority of the votes of members present and voting.
Once the results are in, the Governor-General will declare the Prime Minister-elect, who will address MPs in the chamber.
Following this, the outcome of the election will be publicly announced by the Governor-General on the steps of the east wing of Parliament House. The Prime Minister-elect will then make a brief statement.
The MPs will then retire to the Speaker’s chambers before heading to Government House for the Prime Minister-elect to take his oath of office.
