players

The lead players

DESPITE the many problems the Solomon Islands faces and the gov ernment’s inability to solve them, Prime Minister Solomon Mamaloni must be tipped the strongest con tender for the country’s top job after the May 26 elections. He looks set to win his West Makira seat and with his political cunning has the ability to get the numbers to form a government.

He is standing as an independent but has the backing of the recently formed National Unity Group made up of his 15-member cabinet and the government’s seven backbenchers in the last parliament.

His main rival is likely to be former opposition leader Andrew Nori who has the backing of the new young bloods contesting the elec tions. He is being backed as the force for change in the country. Nori leads the National Front for Progress Party in the elections.

Frances Saemala, MP for Central Malaita in the last parliament, has formed the National Action Party of Solomon Islands to contest the elec tions. He is considered by some to have a chance of becoming Prime Minister.

Opposition leader Joses Tuhanuku has been given a remote chance to head the new government.

If the numbers game is played after the election and a government of national unity is formed, some say he could be a compromise choice similar to his choice as Opposition leader.

The other runners in the election race are Liberal Party leader Bartholomew Ulufa’alu and People’s Alliance Party head David Kausimae. Neither are favoured to win.

At the time of writing the United Party had yet to elect a leader.