BY IRWIN ANGIKI
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has announced he will appeal today’s [April 14, 2026] High Court ruling directing him to resign or call for parliament within three days.
In a statement issued this evening PM Manele said Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer’s judgement failed to deal with ‘certain fundamental questions’.
“Specifically, the ruling raises profound issues regarding the interpretation of constitutional mandates and the established boundaries of the separation of powers between the Executive and the Judiciary,” Manele said.
“As Prime Minister, I hold a duty not only to the present administration but to the integrity of the Office of the Prime Minister and the constitutional framework of Solomon Islands for generations to come. It is essential that the powers of the Head of State, the advice of the Prime Minister, and the procedures of Parliament are balanced exactly as the framers of our Constitution intended.
“Therefore, I have instructed the Attorney General to appeal this decision to the Court of Appeal. It is necessary for the highest court in our land to provide a definitive ruling on these complex constitutional questions to ensure that the legal precedents set today do not inadvertently undermine the stability of our parliamentary democracy in the future.”
Manele said his government remains committed to the legal process, adding that the decision to appeal shows government’s respect for Solomon Islands’ judicial system and desire for ‘absolute legal certainty’.
Meanwhile, PM Manele calls for calm and peace from public.
“I urge all citizens and leaders to maintain respect for our democratic institutions as we navigate these significant legal developments,” Manele said.
Earlier today Chief Justice Palmer ruled in favour of the majority opposition coalition, finding that the Governor General has the residual authority to convene Parliament and that the Prime Minister’s advice refusing to summon Parliament was unlawful.
Chief Justice Palmer gave two options for Prime Minister Manele – resign or call for parliament within three days and face the matured motion of no-confidence.
The Governor General was signalled to engage and convene parliament if the prime minister failed to do this.
Palmer said the Constitutional impasse exists and that PM Manele has failed to discharge timely constitutional duty for the motion of no-confidence to be brought at the earliest.
Failure to do so is unlawful, the Chief Justice said, adding that it would be characterised as an ‘abuse of constitutional power’.
High Court also ruled out the strike-out application by the Attorney General.
Chief Justice Palmer upheld that the Opposition’s judicial review claim raised serious triable and constitutional issues to consider.
