Written by Kirsty Needham
(Reuters) – Solomon Islands' two main opposition parties signed a coalition agreement on Saturday as they battle to form government with former prime minister Manese Sogavare's party after elections failed to yield a clear winner. .
Last week's election was the first since Sogavare struck a security pact with China in 2022 that brought Chinese police to the Pacific island chain and moved the country closer to Beijing.
The election is being closely watched by China, the United States and neighboring Australia as it could have regional security implications.
In Wednesday's election results, Sogavare's OUR party won 15 of the 50 seats in parliament, two seats ahead of the opposition coalition CARE Coalition. Independent parties and small parties have won 15 seats, and gaining support from independents will be key to reaching the 26 seats needed to form a government.
On Saturday, the CARE coalition, made up of Matthew Wales' Solomon Islands Democratic Party, U4C and former Pinnister Prime Minister Rick Hoenipwera's Democratic Alliance Party, will form a 20-seat coalition with the second-largest opposition party, United, led by Peter Kenilorea Jr. We agreed on that.
Hoenipwala told Reuters the groups had not yet decided which party leader would be nominated as prime minister candidate.
“Our group is responding to the cry and desire of our people to take back the Solomon Islands and restore faith in our country's leadership and governance,” the coalition said in a statement.
Sogavare said last week that his party has the support of two small parties and would support independents.
(Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney; Editing by William Mallard)
