List of political parties in the Solomon Islands
Encyclopedia
This article lists political parties in the Solomon Islands.
Solomon Islands
has a multi-party system
with numerous political parties
. In most elections, no one party has won an absolute majority of seats and so usually parties must work with each other to form coalition government
s. The one exception is the 1989 election, when the People's Alliance Party (PAP)
led by Solomon Mamaloni did win an absolute majority. However, in late 1990, Mamaloni broke away from the PAP
and continued ruling in a coalition government until the 1993 election.
Many parties are established immediately prior to an election and most are very short-lived. Some will achieve no parliamentary representation and dissolve within a year. Others will achieve parliamentary representation but, having served their purpose, are then discarded.
The most enduring political parties in the Solomon Islands are the PAP
and the Solomon Islands United Party
, founded in 1979 and 1980, respectively. The PAP
has led three governments and been in coalition in at least three more. The United Party led two governments in the 1980s however its representation has waned in recent years and after the 2006, it no longer had any parliamentary representatives.
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
has a multi-party system
Multi-party system
A multi-party system is a system in which multiple political parties have the capacity to gain control of government separately or in coalition, e.g.The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in the United Kingdom formed in 2010. The effective number of parties in a multi-party system is normally...
with numerous political parties
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
. In most elections, no one party has won an absolute majority of seats and so usually parties must work with each other to form coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
s. The one exception is the 1989 election, when the People's Alliance Party (PAP)
People's Alliance Party (Solomon Islands)
The People's Alliance Party is a political party in the Solomon Islands. The party was formed in 1977 through a merger of the Rural Alliance Party and the People's Progressive Party ....
led by Solomon Mamaloni did win an absolute majority. However, in late 1990, Mamaloni broke away from the PAP
People's Alliance Party (Solomon Islands)
The People's Alliance Party is a political party in the Solomon Islands. The party was formed in 1977 through a merger of the Rural Alliance Party and the People's Progressive Party ....
and continued ruling in a coalition government until the 1993 election.
Many parties are established immediately prior to an election and most are very short-lived. Some will achieve no parliamentary representation and dissolve within a year. Others will achieve parliamentary representation but, having served their purpose, are then discarded.
The most enduring political parties in the Solomon Islands are the PAP
People's Alliance Party (Solomon Islands)
The People's Alliance Party is a political party in the Solomon Islands. The party was formed in 1977 through a merger of the Rural Alliance Party and the People's Progressive Party ....
and the Solomon Islands United Party
Solomon Islands United Party
The Solomon Islands United Party is a political party in Solomon Islands.It was launched in March 1980, shortly after the country's independence from the United Kingdom, by Prime Minister Peter Kenilorea...
, founded in 1979 and 1980, respectively. The PAP
People's Alliance Party (Solomon Islands)
The People's Alliance Party is a political party in the Solomon Islands. The party was formed in 1977 through a merger of the Rural Alliance Party and the People's Progressive Party ....
has led three governments and been in coalition in at least three more. The United Party led two governments in the 1980s however its representation has waned in recent years and after the 2006, it no longer had any parliamentary representatives.
Active political parties (2006–10)
- Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (Solomon Islands)The Democratic Party is a political party in Solomon Islands.In a country in which political parties tend to be small and transient, and to obtain very few seats in Parliament , the Democratic Party has played a comparatively major role in recent history....
(2006–, founded by Matthew Wale) - National PartyNational Party (Solomon Islands)The National Party is a political party in the Solomon Islands.At the legislative elections on 5 April 2006, the party won 6.9 % of the vote and 4 out of 50 seats....
(Nasnol Pati, c.1997–, founded by Francis Billy Hilly) - People's Alliance PartyPeople's Alliance Party (Solomon Islands)The People's Alliance Party is a political party in the Solomon Islands. The party was formed in 1977 through a merger of the Rural Alliance Party and the People's Progressive Party ....
(PAP, 1979–, founded by Solomon Mamaloni and David Kausimae through the merger of Mamaloni's People's Progress Party and Kausimae's Rural Alliance Party) - Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement (2006–, founded by Job Dudley Tausinga and Gordon Darcy Lilo)
- Solomon Islands Liberal PartySolomon Islands Liberal PartyThe Solomon Islands Liberal Party is a political party in the Solomon Islands, which was led by Bartholomew Ulufa'alu from its founding in 1988 until Ulufa’alu’s death in May 2007. Prior to the 1997 elections it formed the Solomon Islands Alliance for Change along with several other parties...
(1988–, founded by Bart Ulufa'alu) - Association of Independent MembersAssociation of Independent MembersThe Association of Independent Members is a political party in the Solomon Islands.At the last legislative elections, 5 December 2001, the party won 13 out of 50 seats....
(AIM, c.2001–, founded by Tommy Chan) - Solomon Islands United PartySolomon Islands United PartyThe Solomon Islands United Party is a political party in Solomon Islands.It was launched in March 1980, shortly after the country's independence from the United Kingdom, by Prime Minister Peter Kenilorea...
(SIUP, 1980–, founded by Peter Kenilorea)
Parties created in lead up to 2010 election
- Direct Development Party (co-founded by former SICHE Director, Dick Ha’amori, and journalist and former MP, Alfred Sasako)
- New Nations Solomon Islands Party (founded by businessman Belani Tekulu)
- Solomon Islands People’s Congress PartyPeople's Congress PartyThe People's Congress Party is a political party in Solomon Islands. It was founded by outgoing deputy Prime Minister Fred Fono during the campaign for the 2010 general election....
(founded by outgoing Deputy PM, Fred FonoFred FonoFred Iro Fono is a politician in the Solomon Islands who has been Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Rural Development and Indigenous Affairs since December 2007...
) - Reform Democratic Party of Solomon Islands (RDP-SI, founded by former MP and Minister Danny PhilipDanny PhilipDanny Philip is a politician and diplomat from the Solomon Islands. He is the current Prime Minister, who came into office after the 2010 general election. He served as foreign minister from 1995 to 1996 and from July 2000 to June 2001...
) - Rural Congress People's Party (founded by Rev. Milton Talasasa)
- Ownership, Unity and Responsibility PartyOwnership, Unity and Responsibility PartyThe Ownership, Unity and Responsibility Party is a political party in the Solomon Islands.The party was established on 16 January 2010 by the leader of the Opposition , Manasseh Sogavare, and eight opposition MPs...
(OUR party, co-founded by former PM Manasseh Sogavare and seven other MPs) - People's Federation Party (founded by former foreign affairs officer Rudolf Henry Dorah; party Chair is Clay Forau Soalaoi, outgoing MP for Temotu Vatud)
- Autonomous Solomon Islanders Party (ASIP, co-founded by former politicians Jackson Sunaone and Denis Lulei)
- Twelve Pillars to Peace and Prosperity PartyTwelve Pillars to Peace and Prosperity PartyThe Twelve Pillars to Peace and Prosperity Party is a political party in Solomon Islands. Launched on 30 May 2010 by Delma Nori, it is the first "women's party" in the country's history. Its stated aim is "to provide a channel for mobilization of women and men who believe in a democratic process...
(TP4, founded by Delma Nori) - People's Power Action Party (founded by former Honiara Lord Mayor, Robert Wales Feratelia)
- Rural and Urban Political PartyRural and Urban Political PartyThe Rural and Urban Political Party is a political party in Solomon Islands.It was founded in June 2010 by MP Samuel Manetoali as a split-away from the Party for Rural Advancement, specifically to take part in the August 2010 general election....
(RUPP) (co-founded by outgoing Lands Minister Samuel Manetoali (President) and outgoing MP for South Vella La Vella, Trevor Olavae) - Christian Progressive Party (CPP)
Former political parties
- Christian Alliance PartyChristian Alliance PartyThe Christian Alliance Party is a political party in the Solomon Islands.At the legislative elections on 5 April 2006, the party garnered 1.9 % of the vote and won no seats....
(2005–06, founded by Edward Ronia) - Lafari PartyLafari PartyThe Lafari Party is a political party in the Solomon Islands.At the legislative elections on 5 April 2006, the party won 2.8 % of the vote and 2 out of 50 seats....
(2005–06, founded by John Garo) - Solomon Islands Social Credit PartySolomon Islands Social Credit PartyThe Solomon Islands Social Credit Party is a political party in the Solomon Islands that espouses social credit theories of monetary reform....
(SoCred, 2006–10, founded by Manasseh Sogavare) - Solomon One Nation (2005–06, founded by Francis Orodani)
- Solomon First (2005-06, founded by David Kwan)
- People's Progressive PartyPeople's Progressive Party (Solomon Islands)The People's Progressive Party is a political party in the Solomon Islands. It was the dominant party in the country under diverse names in the seventies, eighties and nineties under its then leader Solomon Mamaloni. Mamaloni served as prime minister from 1981 to 1984, 1989 to 1993 and 1994 to...
(PPP, 2001–06, founded by Manasseh Sogavare) - New Solomons Party (c. 1997)
- Christian Alliance Party of Solomon Islands
- Christian Leadership and Fellowship Group (1993–97, founded by Rev Michael Maeliau)
- Solomon Islands National Unity and Reconciliation Party (SINURP, 1994-97, founded by Solomon Mamaloni whilst he was Prime Minister, after he broke away from the PAP)
- National Action Party of Solomon Islands (NAPSI, 1993–97, founded by Francis Saemala)
- Solomon Islands Labour PartySolomon Islands Labour PartyThe Solomon Islands Labour Party is a political party in the Solomon Islands. The party was founded in 1988 by the Solomon Islands Council of Trade Unions after the leadership of the union split...
(1988–, founded by Joses Tuhanuku) - National Front for Progress (NFP, 1989–97, founded by Andrew Nori)
- Solomone Ago Sagefanua (SAS, 1984–89, founded by Sethuel Kelly)
- Solomon Islands Rural Party, later Rural Alliance Party (SIRAP, 1977–79, founded by David Kausimae and Faneta Sira)
- National Democratic Party (NADEPA, 1976–89, founded by Bart Ulufa'alu)
- United Solomon Islands Party Alliance (USIPA, 1973–75, founded by Benedict Kinika)
- People’s Progress Party (PPP, 1973–75, founded by Solomon Mamaloni and David Kausimae)
- Labour Party (1971, founded by Peter Salaka)
- Solomon Islands United Nation Party (SUN, 1968–73, founded by David Kausimae, Frank Wickham and Bill Ramsey)
- Democratic Party (1965–67, founded by Mariano Kelesi and Eric Lawson)
- United Democratic Party (UDP, 1980)
See also
- Politics of the Solomon IslandsPolitics of the Solomon IslandsPolitics of Solomon Islands takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy within the Commonwealth, whereby the Prime Minister is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Solomon Islands is an independent country and Commonwealth Realm. Executive...
- List of political parties by country