Solomon Islands parliament to select new prime minister on Friday

· RNZ
Left to right: Matthew Wale, Peter Shanel Agovaka, Manasseh Maelanga.Photo: RNZ Pacific / Solomon Islands opposition / O.U.R Party Solomon islands

The election for a new prime minister in the Solomon Islands has been scheduled for this Friday, with three candidates nominated.

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele was ousted in a vote of no confidence last week after just over two years in power.

Nominations for candidates opened on Friday morning and closed at midday on Sunday.

Local media report the three men who are in the mix for the top job are Central Guadalcanal MP Peter Shanel Agovaka, East Malaita MP Manasseh Maelanga, and the MP for Auki/Langalanga, Matthew Wale.

Agovaka was the foreign minister in Manele's government before abandoning ship and joining the opposition bloc.

Wale is the current opposition leader in parliament. He told local reporters the leadership change has created an exciting time for the country and that his opposition bloc is committed to forming the next government.

The Solomon Islands Governor-General's deputy private secretary Maxwell Banyo told SIBC News that Agovaka is the candidate for the caretaker government, while Maelanga and Wale are candidates from the new coalition.

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