Political Parties in Solomon Islands

Political Parties in Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands has a multi-party system with numerous political parties. In most

elections, no one party has won an absolute majority of seats and so usually parties must work
with each other to form coalition governments. The one exception is the 1989 election, when
the People's Alliance Party (PAP) led by Solomon Mamaloni did win an absolute majority.
However, in late 1990, Mamaloni broke away from the PAP and continued ruling in a coalition
government until the 1993 election.
Many parties are established immediately prior to an election and most are very short-
lived. Some will achieve no parliamentary representation and dissolve within a year. Others will
achieve parliamentary representation but, having served their purpose, are then discarded.
The most enduring political parties in the Solomon Islands are the PAP and the Solomon
Islands United Party, founded in 1979 and 1980, respectively. The PAP has led three
governments and been in coalition in at least three more. The United Party led two governments
in the 1980s however its representation has waned in recent years and after the 2006, it no longer
had any parliamentary representatives.
Active Political Parties
1. Democratic Party
The Democratic Party is a political party in Solomon Islands. In a country in which political

parties tend to be small and transient, and to obtain very few seats in Parliament, the Democratic
Party has played a comparatively major role in recent history.
Gabriel Suri, a lawyer, founded the party in October 2005. It was to focus on "ethical
leadership" for the country. Its General Secretary, John Keniapisia, described that as a leadership
founded on a relationship with God: "Political leadership is about nation building. Political
leadership is also about God’s calling for men & women to be involved in Kingdom building,
here on earth, knowing that everything we do is a calling from God. Therefore we are answerable
to Him. Our focus must be on things of eternal value. In everything we do, we must intent on
doing it for the glory of God". The Democratic Party would also promote "indigenous rule",
ensuring indigenous "control over the destiny of the country" and empowering "traditional
decision making process".
In the April 2006 general election, the party just obtained just three seats (out of fifty) in
the National Parliament, with 4.9% of the vote. Nonetheless, when newly elected Prime
Minister Snyder Rini resigned the following month in the face of a vote of no confidence, the
Democrats joined Manasseh Sogavare's Grand Coalition for Change Government. In November
2007, the Democrats withdrew their support from Sogavare, supporting a successful motion of
no confidence to oust him, and became a key part of new Prime Minister Derek Sikua's Coalition
for National Unity and Rural Advancement government. The party gained a fourth member when
it was joined by a sitting MP. Subsequent floor-crossing brought its number of MPs up to at least
six.
2. National Party (Solomon Islands)
The National Party is a political party in the Solomon Islands. At the legislative elections on

5 April 2006, the party won 6.9 % of the vote and 4 out of 50 seats.
3. People's Alliance Party (Solomon Islands)
A political party in the Solomon Islands. The party was formed in 1977 through a merger
of the Rural Alliance Party (RAP) and the People's Progressive Party (PPP).
At the legislative elections on 5 December 2001, the party won 20 out of 50 seats.

Subsequently its leader, Allan Kemakeza, became prime minister. The party was defeated in the
last legislative elections, on April 5, 2006, winning only 9 seats (including 6 as independents),
and Prime Minister Kemakeza resigned. The party plans to contest the 2010 elections.
4. Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement (SIPRA)

The Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement (SIPRA) is a political party in
the Solomon Islands. At the legislative elections on 5 April 2006, the party won 6.3 % of the
vote and 4 out of 50 seats.
5. Solomon Islands Liberal Party
The Solomon Islands Liberal Party is a political party in the Solomon Islands, which was
led by Bartholomew Ulufa'alu from its founding in 1988 until Ulufa’alu’s death in May 2007.
Prior to the 1997 elections it formed the Solomon Islands Alliance for Change along with several
other parties. The alliance won the 1997 elections with 26 out of 50 seats and Ulufa’alu became
prime minister.
Tensions between the indigenous population of Guadalcanal and immigrants

from Malaita led to the captivity of Ulufa'alu by Malaitese guerillas of the Malaita Eagle
Force in June 2000. After several days of captivity, he resigned. At the legislative elections, 5
December 2001, the alliance won 12 out of 50 seats. At the legislative elections on 5 April 2006,
the parties of the Alliance for Change won about 12 seats and the Liberal Party itself won 5.0%
and 2 seats.
6. Association of Independent Members
The Association of Independent Members is a political party in the Solomon Islands. At

the last legislative elections, 5 December 2001, the party won 13 out of 50 seats.
7. Solomon Islands United Party
It was launched in March 1980, shortly after the country's independence from the United
Kingdom, by Prime Minister Peter Kenilorea. He had initially been an independent, but, in the
lead-up to the country's first post-independence general election, he was "aware that secure
leadership and government depended on reliable support in the House and this support could
only come from having an organised party". The United Party emerged from the election with
the largest number of seats in Parliament, and Kenilorea remained Prime Minister.
The party retained significant public support throughout the 1980s, then experienced a period
of decline. It was "revived" in the build-up to the 2010 general election. Its new president, Joel
Moffat Konofilia, launched its manifesto in July. He focused on his claim that God had cursed
Solomon Islands to punish the country for "vot[ing] against the nation of Israel" at the United
Nations. Asking forgiveness from God, he added that "starting today and onward the United
Party will vow its support and vote for Israel unconditionally in obedience to Genesis 12: 1- 3".
He stated that his beliefs and actions as leader, if elected, would be "rooted deeply in the word of
God".

Political Parties in Solomon Islands

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Political Parties in Solomon Islands

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Political Parties in Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands has a multi-party system with numerous political parties. In most

Active Political Parties

The Democratic Party is a political party in Solomon Islands. In a country in which political

2. National Party (Solomon Islands)

The National Party is a political party in the Solomon Islands. At the legislative elections on

3. People's Alliance Party (Solomon Islands)

At the legislative elections on 5 December 2001, the party won 20 out of 50 seats.

4. Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement (SIPRA)

5. Solomon Islands Liberal Party

Tensions between the indigenous population of Guadalcanal and immigrants

6. Association of Independent Members

The Association of Independent Members is a political party in the Solomon Islands. At

7. Solomon Islands United Party

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