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🇳🇿 New Zealand /Elections & Politics

Winston Peters blasts Solomon Islands ministers for moving against PM Wale

From RNZ Pacific · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale returned home from Palau after Home Affairs Minister Manasseh Maelanga moved a no-confidence motion against him.
  • Three cabinet ministers have resigned, while more could follow and potentially leave Wale short of support.
  • New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Pacific leaders were saddened that the political crisis disrupted the regional summit.

Matthew Wale had barely been in office for three months when a no-confidence motion forced him to leave a Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ meeting and return to the Solomon Islands. Home Affairs Minister Manasseh Maelanga moved the motion, while three cabinet ministers resigned from Wale’s GREAT coalition government.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters sharply criticized the timing. Speaking in Palau before the summit opened, he said, “To think that a motion of no confidence was moved when you're at a critical Pacific event concerns me about the people who moved the motion.”

To think that a motion of no confidence was moved when you're at a critical Pacific event concerns me about the people who moved the motion.

— Winston PetersThe New Zealand foreign minister criticized the timing of the motion against Matthew Wale during the Pacific Islands Forum meeting.

Peters appealed for the ministers to wait until the regional gathering had finished. “For Goodness' sake, could you possibly have waited until your brothers, sisters and cousins have sorted out the Pacific in the meantime, just for these few days?” he said.

Wale reportedly learned about the motion after arriving in Palau and boarded a plane home within hours. Peters said the departure weighed on other leaders, including Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr, who accompanied Wale to the airport. “That shows how saddened Whipps was by that, we all were, that Wale had to go home. But at least they're trying,” Peters said.

For Goodness' sake, could you possibly have waited until your brothers, sisters and cousins have sorted out the Pacific in the meantime, just for these few days?

— Winston PetersPeters urged Solomon Islands ministers to delay their political challenge until after the regional summit.

The political challenge echoes Wale’s role in an earlier effort against his predecessor, Jeremiah Manele. That crisis began when 10 ministers resigned, accusing Manele of making too many decisions without consulting his Cabinet. The latest motion could also gain support from Finance Minister and former prime minister Gordon Darcy Lilo, whose possible departure has been rumoured.

The upheaval comes as several Pacific leaders are absent from the Palau meeting. Kiribati, Samoa, Vanuatu and New Caledonia are not represented by their leaders, while Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka may also stay home. Peters declined to speculate about the absences, saying health reasons could be among them.

That shows how saddened Whipps was by that, we all were, that Wale had to go home. But at least they're trying.

— Winston PetersPeters described the reaction of Pacific leaders after Wale left Palau to address the no-confidence motion.
About this summary

Originally published by RNZ Pacific in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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