07/05/2024
Jeremiah Manele has been elected as the new Prime Minister of Solomon Islands.
Manele served as the foreign minister under former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, a political stalwart in Solomon Islands and a polarizing figure in the Pacific geopolitics.
Sogavare switched diplomatic ties from Taiwan to Beijing and struck a secret security pact that has raised fears of the Chinese navy gaining a foothold in the region. He did not seek re-election to the top political office but his party backed Manele.
Manele's OUR party, which has pledged to build more infrastructure, won 15 seats, and gained four seats under a renewed coalition with two micro parties. It needed support from independents to reach 26 seats for a majority in the 50-seat parliament. A total of 49 votes were cast with one lawmaker absent.
In his first national address on the steps of Parliament, Manele congratulated the people of Solomon Islands on a successful election and called for peace.
"Past prime ministers' elections have been met with the act of violence and destruction. Our economy and livelihoods have suffered because of this violence. However, today we show the world that we are better than that," he said.
"We must uphold and respect the democratic process of electing our prime minister and set and example for our children and their children."
He further highlighted a number of legislations that are ready to be tabled before Parliament. The bills include the value added tax bill, special economics zone bill, the mineral resources bill, the forestry bill and others and affirmed that the cabinet will meet to decide on the priority legislative and policy programs for 2024 which includes whether his government need to revise the 2024 budget or not.
Sogavare is out. What changes? Meg Keen, the director of the Pacific Islands program for Lowy Institute, a Sydney-based international policy think tank gives some hint.
Manale will be a “less fiery and combative leader for the West to manage but he will continue to pursue close relations with China", Keen says.
“As the former foreign minister he helped broker the security deal with China that panicked the West. But he is also a seasoned diplomat with experience at the UN and in western countries -he’s no stranger to western engagement,” Keen adds.
Manele entered parliament in 2014, becoming the opposition leader during the country's 10th Parliament. He later served as the minister for development planning and aid coordination during the 11th Parliament.
Before his parliamentary career, Manele held roles as a dedicated public servant and diplomat.
He represented the country as the Charge de Affairs of the Solomon Islands Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.
His educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Papua New Guinea and a Certificate in Foreign Service and International Relations from Oxford University.
