The Office of the Speaker of Parliament has received a notice of a motion of no confidence against Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele.
The notice, signed by the former Deputy Prime Minister and Member of Parliament for South Vella La Vella, was received Monday and is now before Parliament for consideration.
It is currently undergoing the required seven-day notice period, which will lapse on Monday, 23 March 2026.
Clerk to Parliament Jefferson Hallu said the motion can be moved and debated once the notice period ends, and when the Prime Minister convenes Parliament.
“The motion can be moved anytime from 24 March 2026 onwards, whenever Parliament sits again,” he said.
This is the third motion of no confidence to be filed against Prime Minister Manele.
Earlier this week, 12 Cabinet ministers resigned from the Manele-led Government for National Unity and Transformation.
Most of them are members of the People’s First Party(PFP), who cited frustration and mistrust among coalition partners as reasons for their resignation.
The mass resignation leaves 12 of the 24 government ministries without ministers.
Deputy Wing Leader of the People’s First Party and former Health Minister Dr Paul Bosawai confirmed that a new coalition is being formed between the People’s First Party, opposition members, and independent MPs.
“There is a coalition being formed between the People’s First Party, opposition and independent members, and the number is 28 at the moment. In politics, we cannot pre-count numbers, but we respect the choices of politicians.
If we share the same common ground to redefine Solomon Islands and bring economic benefits to the country, then we are seeing support from our colleagues on the independent and opposition sides,” he said.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Manele welcomed Mary Daniella Zae Garu and Freda Tuki Soriocomua, who were officially sworn in at Government House.
The two MPs replaced ministers who had resigned from Cabinet.
Garu was sworn in as Minister for Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs, succeeding Stephen Kumi, while Ms Soriocomua was sworn in as Minister for Justice and Legal Affairs, succeeding Clezy Rore.
Prime Minister Manele congratulated both ministers, saying their appointments will help ensure the Cabinet remains functional and focused on its objectives.
Meanwhile, the defection of 19 government ministers and backbenchers to the Opposition and independent ranks has now left the Prime Minister running a minority government.
The defected government members have joined with the Opposition and Independent groupings bringing their total number to 28 MPs.
Twenty Seven (27) MPs took a photo shoot Monday without Hon Franklyn Wasi who had also resigned but was still overseas.
The group has also signed a new coalition agreement and filed a motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister.
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“When such a significant number of sitting members, including ministers, abandon their own coalition, it signals a government in serious crisis,” a statement from the group said.
The statement said these decisions are not made lightly.
They reflect deep frustrations over internal divisions, lack of trust, and growing concerns that the government has lost its sense of direction and purpose.
This mass exodus raises urgent constitutional and governance questions.
“Can a government that has lost the confidence of 19 of its own members continue to claim legitimacy? Can it effectively govern while grappling with internal collapse?”
The statement said that what is unfolding is not just a reshuffling of numbers; it is a rejection of leadership that has failed to unite, failed to listen, and failed to deliver.
Political commentator and director of the Citizens Rights Advocacy Network Solomon Islands, Redley Raramo, said there was still time for the PM to stabilise the coalition.
“Negotiations are still ongoing and progressing. The Prime Minister is yet to announce a formal date for the parliament meeting”.
“”I wouldn’t be concluding here because anything to do with the numbers can only be manifested on the floor of Parliament,” said Raramo.
