Matthew Wale

Matthew Wale CBE
Member of Parliament for Aoke/Langalanga
Incumbent
Assumed office 27 March 2008
Preceded by	Bartholomew Ulufa'alu
Leader of the Opposition (Solomon Islands)
Incumbent
Assumed office April 2019
Personal details
Born	(1968-06-13) 13 June 1968 (age 56) Ambu Village, Malaita Province Solomon Islands
Political party	Democratic Party

Matthew Cooper Wale (born 13 June 1968) is a Solomon Islands politician currently serving as the Leader of the Opposition. He is a member of the National Parliament of the Solomon Islands, and has represented the Aoke/Langalanga constituency on since being elected in 2008.^[1]

Political career

Wale was elected in a special election held on 27 March 2008 following the death of sitting MP Bartholomew Ulufa'alu.^[2]

Following the 2019 general election, Wale became the Leader of the Opposition.^[3]

In 2021, amid mass unrest in the country, Wale called for Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare to step down.^[4] On 28 November 2021, Wale filed a no-confidence motion against the Sogavare government, with debate scheduled for 6 December.^[5][6] The motion was ultimately defeated.^[7]

Following the 2024 general election, Wale was a nominee for the position of prime minister. Wale, who received 18 votes, lost to Jeremiah Manele, who received 31 votes.^[8]

References

1. "The Hon. Matthew Cooper Wale". National Parliament of Solomon Islands. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
2. "New Members for East Malaita and Aoke-Langalanga", Solomon Times, March 29, 2008
3. "PINA | Pacific Islands News Association". Retrieved 2 December 2021.
4. Hurst, Daniel (25 November 2021). "Australia sends troops and police to Solomon Islands as unrest grows". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
5. Sasako, Alfred (29 November 2021). "NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION FILED". Solomon Star. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
6. Agence France-Presse (1 December 2021). "Solomon Islands unrest: New Zealand to send dozens of peacekeepers". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
7. "Solomon Islands PM survives no-confidence vote after unrest". BBC News. 6 December 2021. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
8. "Jeremiah Manele is new Solomon Islands Prime Minister". RNZ. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.