pn931. Democracy in the Solomon Islands

Sogave switched from regognizing
Taiwan to recognizing China

 Democracy can be limited when there are too few parties contesting an election. It is limited also when there are too many, and too many independent candidates, as is the case with the Solomon Islands which has just had an election, and is now on tenterhooks as parties woo support from other parties and independents to elect  a government and appoint a prime minister.  

 Former PM Mannaseh Sogavare 's One party did best with 15 successful candidates but it needs another 11 if it is to form the government in the 50-seat parliment. Matthew Wale's Democratic party came next with 11 seats.  In all,  eight parties won one seat or more and there are 11 independents. 

The opportunities —and need? —for graft and other forms of corruption in lobbying for support are immense. One wonders whether franchise, at this stage of Solomon Islands development, might be better in the hands of a geographically representative and educated council of electors.

This RNZ article sums up the sums up the voting situation.