14 Dec 2007

Solomons parliament to elect new PM next Wednesday

2:12 pm on 14 December 2007

The Solomon Islands parliament has been adjourned until next Thursday when MPs will choose a new Prime Minister before a government is officially formed.

This follows the ousting of the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in a vote of no-confidence in parliament yesterday.

The Governor General Sir Nathaniel Waena has advised that nominations for the next Prime Minister must be lodged by late tomorrow.

This allows four clear days before parliament elects a new head of goverment.

The swearing-in of the new Prime Minister is scheduled for Thursday with his new cabinet set to be sworn in the day after.

Parliament is then scheduled to meet again on the 28th to give official approval for spending in the first quarter of next year while the government works towards the budget for 2008.