Democratic Party (Solomon Islands)
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Democratic Party
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| Leader | Mathew Wale |
| Founded | October 2005 |
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The Democratic Party is a political party in Solomon Islands. In a country in which political parties tend to be small and transient, and to obtain very few seats in Parliament, the Democratic Party has played a comparatively major role in recent history.
Gabriel Suri, a lawyer, founded the party in October 2005. It was to focus on "ethical leadership" for the country. Its general secretary, John Keniapisia, described that as a leadership founded on a relationship with God: "Political leadership is about nation building. Political leadership is also about God's calling for men & women to be involved in Kingdom building, here on earth, knowing that everything we do is a calling from God. Therefore we are answerable to Him. Our focus must be on things of eternal value. In everything we do, we must intent on doing it for the glory of God". The Democratic Party would also promote "indigenous rule", ensuring indigenous "control over the destiny of the country" and empowering "traditional decision making process[es]".
In the April 2006 general election, the party just obtained just three seats (out of fifty) in the National Parliament, with 4.9% of the vote. Nonetheless, when newly elected Prime Minister Snyder Rini resigned the following month in the face of a vote of no confidence, the Democrats joined Manasseh Sogavare's Grand Coalition for Change Government. In November 2007, the Democrats withdrew their support from Sogavare, supporting a successful motion of no confidence to oust him, and became a key part of new Prime Minister Derek Sikua's Coalition for National Unity and Rural Advancement government. The party gained a fourth member when it was joined by a sitting MP. Subsequent floor-crossing brought its number of MPs up to at least six.
In government under Sikua, the party was described as "instrumental" in ensuring the introduction of "significant reforms such as the Political Party Reform Bills, the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the establishment of the taskforce team to undertake study for creation of an Independent Commission Against Corruption".
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