The Solomon Islands government has successfully delayed the country’s national elections, effectively extending the term of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare who has moved quickly to leverage deepening ties with Beijing to solidify his power.
The vote passed with 37 out of the Parliament’s 50 MPs in support. This comes after a report last year revealed 39 Solomon MPs received funds from a Beijing-backed slush fund.
The constitutional amendment will delay the dissolution of the 11th Solomons Parliament from May 2023 until Dec. 31, 2023 with the election to be held in April 2024.
Prime Minister Sogavare claimed the government could not afford to run the election at the same time as the Pacific Games due in late 2023….