Solomon Islands awaits vote count after closely watched election

Voting in Solomon Islands ended on Wednesday, with the election of the country’s next government subject to potential regional influence given the country’s ties with China.

Solomon Islands Electoral Commission chairman Jasper Highwood Anisi told a news conference that voting across the country was proceeding as planned, with many polling stations opening earlier in the day compared with previous elections. Voters were seen waiting in line during the election, and in previous elections, voting times at polling stations were later. voter.

Counting is scheduled to begin on Thursday, with results not expected for several weeks. There are more than 1,000 polling stations for this election, spread across 900 islands across the country.

Fifty MPs will be elected from 334 candidates, only 21 of whom are women. These 50 newly elected officials will then determine the Prime Minister.

This is the country’s first election since Taiwan’s government severed ties with Beijing.

As well as relations with China, the opposition said voters would focus on issues such as health care, education and the country’s road network.

The election was due to be held last year but was postponed by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, who argued that the country could not afford to hold the vote and host the Pacific Regional Games in the same year. Sogavare’s critics called the decision a power grab. He is the frontrunner for an unprecedented second term.

China is also a source of concern in the election due to its growing security presence in the Pacific.

“The outcome will determine whether Solomon Islands continues to develop its relationship with China or changes course and takes a different approach,” Parker Novak, a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Center, told VOA in a written response.

Reporter William Yang contributed to this report, which included information from The Associated Press.