Opinion: Increasing women’s political representation in Solomon Islands

On 29 December 2023, the Solomon Islands National Cabinet approved the introduction of temporary special measures (TSMs) to improve women’s political representation in the Provincial Government Assemblies (PGAs).

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Opinion: Manele’s leadership in Solomon Islands: opportunities and challenges

Solomon Islands’ new prime minister Jeremiah Manele brings a new leadership style to the position, compared to the abrasive approach of his predecessor, Manasseh Sogavare. However, policies are unlikely to change, and

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PNG ruling Pangu party split, I will not resign says PM Marape

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has declared that he will not resign from his position despite the recent defection of Pangu Pati and Government MPs to the Opposition. In a statement he emphasised that any

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Opinion: Why is New Caledonia on fire? According to local women, the deadly riots are about more than voting rights

New Caledonia’s capital city, Noumea, has endured widespread violent rioting over the past 48 hours. This crisis intensified rapidly, taking local authorities by surprise. Peaceful protests had been occurring across

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Nine more Solomon Islands Ministers sworn-in

Nine more Solomon Islands ministers have been sworn-in Monday formalising their appointments to their respective Ministerial portfolios, almost completing the lineup of cabinet ministers this week.  The eleven

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Solomon Islands Caretaker PM Manasseh Sogavare bows out, won’t keep his job following elections

Solomon Islands Caretaker Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, has passed on the leadership of the Parliamentary Wing of OUR Party to Prime Ministerial candidate, Jeremiah Manele.  Speaking at a press briefing Monday

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Solomon Islands election counting complete, as negotiation process to find a prime minister kicks off, Sogavare says he runs security amid tense wait for new government

An intense period of political horse-trading is underway in Solomon Islands after no political party won enough seats in last week’s election to form government on its own.  In what one expert labelled an

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Opinion: What’s wrong with Vanuatu’s proposed party laws?

Vanuatu is holding its first ever referendum on 29th May on two constitutional amendments designed to lessen instability on the floor of parliament. The first amendment (17A) intends to tie members of parliament (MPs)

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Solomon Islands: No clear winner as lobbying to form next government intensifies

Lobbying to form Solomon Islands’ next government is intensifying.  With only four more seats in the 50-member parliament yet to be officially declared, there is no outright winner.  As of Monday, the two

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More than half of Solomon Islands election results in as counting continues

More than 60 percent of the national results of the Solomon Islands election are now in. So far, two female MPs have been elected and three former prime ministers may be in the running for the top job. Counting is still

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As protests grow in New Caledonia, Australia backs France’s Indo-Pacific Strategy

As the French National Assembly and Senate debate changes to New Caledonia’s electoral laws, there are protests in the streets of Noumea. On Saturday 13 April, tens of thousands of supporters and opponents of

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‘The right person’: What did Solomon Islanders vote for? SIEC declares first three results

‘The right person’: What did Solomon Islanders vote for? After a relatively well-organised and peaceful day of voting in Solomon Islands, the electoral commission is working with donor partners to safely

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Voters must re-register to participate in 2026 Samoa General Elections

All eligible voters in Samoa including Samoa’s diaspora must register or re-register to vote in the next general elections in 2026. Savali News reported the Office of the Electoral Commissioner is already on the

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Solomon Islands PM’s wife slams report on family properties as unethical journalism

The wife of the caretaker Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has described the In-depth Solomons article titled ‘Solomons PM Has Millions in Property, Raising Questions Around Wealth’ as a publication

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Solomon Islands declares public holiday on Election day, liqour ban

Solomon Islands Government had declared Wednesday 17 April 2024 as a public holiday for the conduct of national, provincial and Honiara City Council elections. The caretaker Minister of Home Affairs, Christopher Laore

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Tonga PM announces minor reshuffle, resignations as ‘Utoikamanu moves to Communication

Tongan Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni has confirmed his resignation as Minister of His Majesty’s Armed Forces. He also confirmed the resignation of Fekita ‘Utoikamanu as Minister of Tourism and

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2024 joint ballot papers arrived safely in Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands official ballot papers for the 2024 Joint Election are printed and have now arrived in the country on Tuesday this week. The ballot papers totaling a record of 1 million, cater to voter numbers in a

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Women make up just six percent of candidates for Solomon Islands election

The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission has revealed the number of women candidates running at the 2024 national election will be just six percent of the total number of candidates contesting, lower than the previous

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PNG vote of no confidence not entertained

The Papua New Guinea Parliamentary Private Business Committee (PBC) has denied the notice of the motion of the Vote-of-No-Confidence. In advising Parliament, Acting Speaker Koni Iguan said, “The PBC deliberated on the

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Delay in glitch investigation raises concerns

The Electoral Commission of Fiji (ECF) is concerned over the prolonged delay in investigating the “glitch” that occurred during the vote counting process in the 2022 General Elections. In a statement this week, the

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Albert Nicholas appointed Cook Islands Deputy PM

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has confirmed the appointment of Albert Nicholas as the country’s Deputy Prime Minister (DPM). The Avatiu–Ruatonga–Palmerston MP holds the Infrastructure Cook Islands,

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O.U.R. Party unveils five key policy priorities: Solomon Islands Caretaker PM Sogavare

Solomon Islands Parliamentary leader of O.U.R. Party and caretaker Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare has unveiled the five key policy priorities of the party during the launching of the party’s manifesto. The

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PNG PM Marape addresses Opposition’s vote of no confidence motion with confidence

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, James Marape has openly welcomed the Opposition’s motion for a vote-of-no-confidence against him.  This announcement came after the Acting Speaker, Konie Iguan, briefed Parliament

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PNG PM Marape describes challenge as ‘frivolous’ and ‘opportunistic’

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, James Marape has described planned attempts to challenge his government in a vote of no confidence motion as “frivolous and opportunistic”. The traditional 18-month grace period that

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