Manele boosted as Solomons no-confidence motion delayed
The Solomon Islands parliament has delayed consideration of a no-confidence vote in Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele, who now holds renewed hope of retaining the position.
A walk-out by key government members including Manasseh Sogavare last week imperilled Mr Manele's tenure, a year into taking the job.
The four-time prime minister claimed a new grouping, including key opposition figures Matthew Wale, Gordon Darcy Lilo and Peter Kenilorea Jr, held a slender majority in the 50-seat parliament.
Mr Lilo tabled the no-confidence motion last week with the intent of it being discussed on Tuesday, and winning the vote to allow them to form a new government.
However, on Tuesday morning, parliament released an order paper without the motion on the agenda, suggesting it had been pulled.
Debate was due to begin at 10am local (9am AEST), but Speaker Patteson Oti convened the house around 90 minutes late to briefly state that ongoing discussions meant deliberations would not begin until the afternoon.
"Parliament has yet to put forward a position. Because of its non-appearance on the order paper. I will suspend parliament until two o'clock," he said.
One explanation for the last-minute switch could be a change of heart by key MPs.
On Monday, Mr Manele released a photo alongside with 27 other MPs, suggesting he had coaxed a pair of MPs back into the government tent, and he would defeat a no-confidence motion.
"Members of the (government) coalition convened this afternoon in a caucus meeting at cabinet," Mr Manele said, as reported by In-depth Solomons.
"They reaffirmed their unity and preparedness to face tomorrow's vote."
One pictured was Claudius Tei'ifi, a Malaita-based MP who cited concerns over the slow pace of work on an Australia-backed tuna plant in his constituency when he left the government.
The political instability has led to schools in Honiara being allowed to close for the day.
Previous no-confidence motions and political ructions have brought riots or demonstrations in the capital Honaira, though police figures have suggested the chances of unrest is low.
Senator Penny Wong, Australia's foreign minister, deferred when she was asked whether she was concerned about the stand-off.
"These are matters for the people and the parliament of the Solomon Islands. It's a sovereign country," she told ABC Radio National.
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