Officials from the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission have declared the final results of last week’s landmark polls. The November 19 election was the country’s first since an Australian-led peacekeeping operation transitioned to a police-focused mission last year. Philothea Ruaeho, a spokeswoman for the electoral commission, said the final results for all the constituencies had been declared by the governor-general. Independent candidates were the biggest winners, securing 32 seats in the 50-seat parliament. With no dominant political party emerging, the members were expected to travel to the capital, Honiara, to begin negotiations on a coalition government. The newly-elected MPs will also choose the country’s next prime minister.
Gordon Darcy Lilo, who had led the Solomons Island since 2011, lost his seat in the constituency of Gizo-Kolombangara.
Ms Ruaeho told Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat that a new voter registration system had contributed to the success of the elections.
Full Article: Solomon Islands election: Independents win two-thirds of parliamentary seats – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).