Coalition Leaders to PM: Resign or Call Parliament
Leaders of the new coalition are calling on the Prime Minister to resign or call Parliament to immediately resolve the current political impasse.
In a signed letter to the Prime Minister today, the leaders said the most responsible thing for the Prime Minister to do now is call Parliament or resign because the Prime Minister is currently operating a minority government.
The letter was signed by the Leader of Opposition Hon Matthew Wale, Leader of Independent Hon Manasseh Maelanga, SIPFP wing leader Hon Fredrick Kologeto, UFC wing leader Hon Daniel Waneoroa, UP wing leader Hon Peter Kenilorea Jnr, DAP wing leader Hon Rick Houenipwela and SIPRA wing leader Hon Gordon Darcy Lilo.
The coalition leaders in the letter emphasised that a minority Government lacks the mandate of the people of Solomon Islands to govern the country, which is an unacceptable practice and a breach of our constitution, which clearly states the Government must rule by majority.
“The Solomon Islands constitution is built on the foundational principle of majority rule. A minority government situation is repugnant to the constitution. A minority government is therefore intolerable and unacceptable,” it stated.
The coalition leaders said it is for those reasons that the new Coalition has lodged with the Speaker of Parliament a motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister.
The letter highlighted that from past experience, the current political crisis, if not resolved quickly, has the potential to have very serious social and economic effects, including a constitutional crisis.
“To avoid the crisis from creating even far worse issues for our people and our country, we respectfully call on you to do the right and responsible thing and immediately resign as Prime Minister. That would pave the way for us to stabilise the crisis and elect a new Prime Minister in accordance with our laws.”
The coalition leaders in the letter emphasised that if the Prime Minister is confident that he still commands the numbers then he must advise the Speaker to convene a meeting of Parliament after Monday 23rd March 2026 to test the Government’s numerical strength on the floor of Parliament.
“We note that on past occasions, you willingly faced motions of no confidence and did not take any step to avoid Parliament meetings. If you take the second option, we ask that you maintain the same approach and allow the parliamentary process to deal with the issue of majority rule.”
The letter also adds that under the Political Parties Integrity Act 2014 (PPIA), political parties who believe that they have the number of Members of Parliament to form government might enter into a new coalition agreement.
“Following the withdrawal by PFP from the GNUT Coalition Agreement, PFP and five (5) other political parties have since entered into a Coalition Agreement. That Agreement is signed by a total of 28 Members of Parliament and registered with the Political Party Commission office,” it said.
“In these circumstances, it is clear from mandatory steps taken under the PPIA and records of such steps provided by the Political Parties Commission to the Governor-General that you no longer command the majority of Members of Parliament. GNUT is therefore a minority Government.”
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Opposition/Coalition statement