Prime Minister of Solomon Islands

Prime Minister of Solomon Islands
Praem Minista blo Solomon Aelan (Pijin)
Coat of Arms of Solomon Islands
since 2 May 2024
ResidenceRed House, Honiara
AppointerElected by the members of Parliament
Term lengthUntil next election
Inaugural holderPeter Kenilorea
Formation7 July 1978
Salary143,000 SBD/US$ 17,439 annually[1]

The prime minister of Solomon Islands is Solomon Islands' head of government, consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the National Parliament. Since May 2024 Jeremiah Manele has been the prime minister of Solomon Islands.

Solomon Islands is a Commonwealth realm; the functions of the head of state are performed on behalf of the monarch of Solomon Islands by the governor-general of Solomon Islands, who is nominated by Parliament.

The prime minister's official residence is Red House in Honiara.

Constitutional basis

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Section 33 of the constitution of Solomon Islands provides for the prime minister to be elected by the members of the national parliament. The other government ministers are appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the prime minister.[2]

The prime minister may be removed from office by the governor-general following a no-confidence motion passed by an absolute majority of the national parliament. The office is also vacated if the prime minister resigns, ceases to be a member of parliament, or is elected as speaker or deputy speaker. In the event of a vacancy, the governor-general, in consultation with cabinet, appoints one of the existing government ministers to act as prime minister until the national parliament can meet to fill the vacancy.[3]

Schedule 2 to the constitution outlines the process for election of the prime minister. All members of parliament are eligible for nomination, but must be nominated by at least four other members. The election is then held by secret ballot with the governor-general presiding. If a candidate fails to secure a majority of votes on the first ballot, an exhaustive ballot takes place with the candidate with the lowest number of votes eliminated on each ballot.[4]

List of officeholders

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Political parties
List of Prime ministers of Solomon Islands
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Election Term of office Political party
(Coalition)
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Peter Kenilorea
(1943–2016)
1980 7 July 1978 31 August 1981 3 years, 55 days UP
2 Solomon Mamaloni
(1943–2000)
31 August 1981 19 November 1984 3 years, 80 days PAP
(1) Sir Peter Kenilorea
(1943–2016)
1984 19 November 1984 1 December 1986 2 years, 12 days UP
3 Ezekiel Alebua
(1947–2022)
1 December 1986 28 March 1989 2 years, 117 days UP
(2) Solomon Mamaloni
(1943–2000)
1989 28 March 1989 18 June 1993 4 years, 82 days PAP
(GNUR)
4 Sir Francis Billy Hilly
(born 1948)
1993 18 June 1993 7 November 1994 1 year, 142 days Independent
(NCP)
(2) Solomon Mamaloni
(1943–2000)
7 November 1994 27 August 1997 2 years, 293 days GNUR
5 Bartholomew Ulufa'alu
(1950–2007)
1997 27 August 1997 30 June 2000 2 years, 308 days SILP
(SIAC)
6 Manasseh Sogavare
(born 1955)
30 June 2000 17 December 2001 1 year, 170 days PPP
7 Allan Kemakeza
(born 1950)
2001 17 December 2001 20 April 2006 4 years, 124 days PAP
8 Snyder Rini
(born 1948)
2006 20 April 2006 4 May 2006 14 days AIM
(6) Manasseh Sogavare
(born 1955)
4 May 2006 20 December 2007 1 year, 230 days Socreds
9 Derek Sikua
(born 1959)
20 December 2007 25 August 2010 2 years, 248 days SILP
10 Danny Philip
(born 1953)
2010 25 August 2010 16 November 2011 1 year, 83 days RDPSI
11 Gordon Darcy Lilo
(born 1965)
16 November 2011 9 December 2014 3 years, 23 days SIPRA
(6) Manasseh Sogavare
(born 1955)
2014 9 December 2014 15 November 2017 2 years, 341 days Independent
12 Rick Houenipwela
(born 1958)
15 November 2017 24 April 2019 1 year, 160 days DAP
(6) Manasseh Sogavare
(born 1955)
2019
24 April 2019 2 May 2024 5 years, 8 days OUR Party
13 Jeremiah Manele
(born 1968)
2024
2 May 2024 Incumbent 190 days OUR Party

Timeline

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Jeremiah ManeleRick HouenipwelaGordon Darcy LiloDanny PhilipDerek SikuaSynder RiniAllan KemakezaManasseh SogavareBartholomew Ulufa'aluFrancis Billy HillyEzekiel AlebuaSoloman MamaloniPeter Kenilorea

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Government of the Solomon Islands. "Parliament Entitlements Regulations, 2008" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-08-12. Retrieved 2019-06-29.
  2. ^ "Section 33". Constitution of Solomon Islands. Retrieved 11 June 2024 – via Constitute Project.
  3. ^ "Section 34". Constitution of Solomon Islands. Retrieved 11 June 2024 – via Constitute Project.
  4. ^ "Schedule 2". Constitution of Solomon Islands. Retrieved 11 June 2024 – via Constitute Project.