Solomon Islands lawmakers to vote Thursday for new PM as China deals eyed
World
Solomon Islands lawmakers to vote Thursday for new PM as China deals eye
(Reuters) - Solomon Islands lawmakers will select a new prime minister in a secret ballot on Thursday, choosing between foreign minister Jeremiah Manele and opposition leader Matthew Wale, after a national election failed to deliver a majority to any political party.
The election is being closely watched by China, the U.S. and neighbouring Australia because of the potential impact on regional security, after incumbent Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare struck a security pact with China in 2022.
Sogavare, who built close ties with Beijing during five years in power, is not seeking re-election to the top political office. His party claims it has enough support from independent candidates to form a government led by Manele.
Wale, in a 20-seat coalition of four opposition parties, said on Wednesday that lobbying of politicians ahead of the vote was dominated by "people asking for money and positions".
"The lobbying going on at the moment is not about policy," he said at a Solomon Islands National University event.
"It's not about the future of this country. We are trying to select the leadership, to build numbers for it, by people asking for money and positions. What's in it for themselves?”
Manele declined to attend the event, which had been billed by the university as a leaders debate, and Wale criticised the government for being "scared of their own people".
Jacky Yu is closing his Japanese gift shop in Hong Kong after 12 years. He has made the difficult decision to move it online.
Wale said the government had failed to create jobs and the economy was dominated by logging and mining companies which shipped resources to China, while health clinics were unable to obtain medications such as paracetamol.
