Solomon Islands: Prime Minister Manele demonstrates firm influence within parliament

On 28 April, Member of Parliament Gordon Darcy Lilo moved a motion of no confidence (MONC) against Prime Minister (PM) Jeremiah Manele following the resignation of 11 Cabinet Ministers and MPs, including the Deputy PM. The resignees cited a lack of confidence in the Prime Minister’s leadership. The MONC vote was scheduled for 6 May 2025, but was withdrawn after PM Manele appointed seven members of the Opposition and Independent Group to the roles of the resigned ministers. 

Assessment: PM Manele faced a similar challenge in December last year, when Gordon Darcy Lilo withdrew a MONC he had previously moved. PM Manele’s survival of the MONC indicates a strong influence within Parliament as well as relative political stability in the Solomon Islands.

Sources: Alfred Pagepitu, “Government House receives resignation of 11 Cabinet Ministers and government backbenchers,” SIBC, April 28, 2025; Dorothy Wickham, “Manele under threat: the political crisis in Solomon Islands,” Devpolicy Blog, May 2, 2025; “Sogavare among Solomon Islands Government MPs in walkout; Parliament receives notice of no-confidence motion against PM Manele,” Islands Business, April 29, 2025; “No-confidence motion absents from today’s Solomon Islands Parliament agenda,” Islands Business, May 6, 2025.