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Solomon Islands’ pro-China PM fails to secure outright majority in election
- Manasseh Sogavare’s Our Party has won 12 seats with six contests still in play, well short of a majority in the 50-seat parliament
- His two main rival parties – sitting on 12 seats between them – have both expressed a desire to wind back China’s influence if they form a government
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The incumbent prime minister of Solomon Islands was set to fall short of an outright election majority on Monday, forcing the pro-Beijing Pacific leader to woo an unwieldy mix of potential coalition partners.
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Manasseh Sogavare’s Our Party has won 12 seats with six contests still in play, according to provisional results reported by the public broadcaster – well short of a majority in the 50-seat parliament.
Coalition negotiations will be closely watched from afar, with major consequences for Beijing’s push into the South Pacific.
Sogavare signed a security pact with Beijing in 2022, and has overseen the rapid expansion of Chinese interests across the archipelago.
His two main rival parties – sitting on 12 seats between them – have both expressed a desire to wind back China’s influence if they form a government.
The balance of seats are held by an unpredictable collection of independents and minor parties.
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