Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has come out swinging against a motion of no confidence against him and the MPs backing the leadership challenge.
Wale, 57, has moved swiftly to replace two out of the three Cabinet ministers who resigned at the start of the week to support the bid to oust him. He called the departing ministers “political opportunists” seeking to destabilise the country.
In the process, Finance Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo, who had publicly distanced himself from the no-confidence motion, has been sacked.
The no-confidence motion was filed in parliament last weekend, with Wale finding out within hours of landing in Palau for the Pacific Island Forum leaders summit.
The motion is set to be debated on Monday, 7 September.
Soon after news of the motion went public, the resignations came: Home Affairs Minister Manasseh Maelanga, Commerce Minister Harry Kuma, and Justice Minister Clezy Rore.
Wale said the saga “exposes” political opportunism, and an attempt to derail a reform agenda within three months of his term.
“They demonstrate poor leadership judgement and a disturbing willingness to put petty political interests ahead of national interest,” Wale’s office said in a statement.
“The people deserve the opportunity to see whether the GREAT Coalition can deliver.”
Maelanga, who stood against Wale to become PM after the resignation of Jeremiah Manele in May, had also filed the motion, which contained grievances that Wale had made unilateral decisions without consulting Cabinet – on “matters of national significance” no less.
Rore has subsequently told local media outlets that he had never been consulted by the PM about decisions around remuneration for the Attorney-General Gabriel Suri.
Wale described the claims as baseless.
“Mr Rore’s claim was not surprising, given that the former Minister was frequently absent from Cabinet and Caucus.
“The bigger question is whether ‘lack of consultation’ is being used as a convenient political justification for a move that may have been contemplated well before the current dispute emerged.”
Gordon Darcy Lilo
RNZI / Johnny Blades
Lilo, a former prime minister, publicly denied any involvement on Tuesday, calling media speculation “irresponsible”.
He’ll be replaced by Rexon Ramofafia, a former Finance Minister of Manele’s.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Manasseh Sogavare, upon Wale’s return from Palau, called the saga a national embarrassment.
“The Prime Minister has been forced to leave the regional leaders’ meeting prematurely because his Government is facing a major political crisis at home.” he said.
“It is a profound leadership failure by Prime Minister Wale.”
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters expressed frustration at the situation nearer the beginning of the summit.
“To think that a motion of no confidence was moved when you’re at a critical Pacific event concerns me about the people who moved the motion,” he said.
“For Goodness’ sake, could you possibly have waited until your brothers, sisters and cousins have sorted out the Pacific in the meantime, just for these few days?”
