Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has not been able to win a majoity in parliamentary elections, setting the stage for coalition negotiations in coming weeks to form the new government.
Sogavare’s OUR Party has won only 15 seats so far in the parliament, according to the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corp. With almost all counting now completed, the incumbent will need to secure support from minority parties and independent lawmakers if he wants another term in office.
The negotiations will be closely monitored from Beijing to Canberra and Washington. A loss by Sogavare would be a major set back to the Chinese government’s strategic plans in the Pacific, with the Solomon Islands its closest ally in the region. Some candidates to replace Sogavare have said they would move the Pacific nation closer to Taiwan and look at altering or even cancelling agreements with Beijing that were signed during the Sogavare administration.
