Solomon Islands parliament elects new prime minister
The strategic importance of Solomon Islands has been in focus in recent years. -AAP Image
Solomon Islands parliament has elected opposition leader Matthew Wale as prime minister, after incumbent Jeremiah Manele was ousted from power last week in a no-confidence vote.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Wale defeated Peter Shanel Agovaka by 26 votes to 22 in a ballot of the country's members of parliament, Governor General Sir David Tiva Kapu, who acts as a representative of the country's head of state, King Charles, told a news conference on Friday.
"We take government at a difficult time, given what is happening throughout the world," Wale said after his election.
"We are not immune from the impacts of these geopolitical events."
Located 1600km northeast of Australia, the strategic importance of Solomon Islands has been in focus in recent years due to its strengthening ties with China. In 2022, it signed a security pact with China that prompted concern from the United States and South Pacific neighbours.
Wale was highly critical of the deal, saying it would affect regional security and could jeopardise relationships with existing partners, but in recent years he has made attempts to thaw ties with China.
In 2025, he led a delegation to Beijing, where he praised China's economic development and said his party supported the one-China principle, according to a readout of the visit provided by the Communist Party of China.
21°C