Sydney, Australia, May 2 (EFE).- Jeremiah Manele was elected by the Solomon Islands lawmakers on Thursday as the South Pacific nation’s next prime minister.
China-friendly Manele is the successor to outgoing leader Manasseh Sogavare in the Solomons, an island nation key in the power tussle between the United States and China in the Pacific.
The incoming prime minister, leader of the Sogavare-founded Ownership, Unity and Responsibility Party, obtained 31 votes, while Matthew Wale, leader of a four-party alliance promoting change, obtained 18 votes, with one vote absent, Governor General Sir David Vunagi announced outside parliament in Honiara, according to footage from the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation.
“We must respect and uphold the democratic process of electing our Prime Minister and set an example for our children and their children,” Manele said, according to local media.
Following the April 17 election, Sogavare declared he wouldn’t pursue another term and endorsed Manele as his party’s candidate.
Sogavare’s party won the election with 15 out of 50 parliamentary seats, not enough to secure a majority.
Manele has pledged to continue the foreign policy direction of the government of Sogavare, who in 2019 ended 36 years of bilateral relations with Taiwan to switch diplomatic allegiance to China, and in 2022 opaquely negotiated a security pact with Beijing.
The agreement heightened tensions between the US and China amid their strategic rivalry in the South Pacific. This region has long advocated for climate action and is now witnessing a surge in global collaboration.
Moreover, Manele’s leadership will likely face scrutiny and challenges from both domestic and international stakeholders. While his China-friendly stance may strengthen ties with Beijing, it could also strain relations with traditional allies, such as the United States and Australia.
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