Shortlands bye-election, 2011

A bye-election was held in the Shortlands constituency in Solomon Islands on March 30, 2011.^[1] The election followed the death of MP Steve Laore, an Independent, who was elected to the seat for his first term in the general election on August 4, 2010, and died just twenty-one days later, on August 25.^[2]

Laore had been a member of Prime Minister Danny Philip's parliamentary majority.^[3] When the date for the bye-election was set, in mid-February, Philip was facing the threat of a motion of no confidence, seemingly having narrowly lost his majority in Parliament. Simultaneously, it was announced Parliament would reconvene on March 28, just prior to the election of Laore's successor, with expectations that a vote would be held on a motion of no confidence.^{[4] [5]}

There were four candidates. Christopher Laore, brother of Steve Laore, was elected with 1353 votes. Augustine Taneko, a former Member of Parliament, received 731. Pellion Buare obtained 111, while Joseph Isand Pitu received a single vote.^[6]

See also

• List of Solomon Islands by-elections

References

1. ^ "GG Announces Bye-election Dates", Solomon Times, February 16, 2011
2. ^ "Solomons MP dies after election win", Sydney Morning Herald, August 26, 2010
3. ^ "Solomons MP dies after election win", Sydney Morning Herald, August 26, 2010
4. ^ "PM Claims 24 MPs", Solomon Times, January 25, 2011
5. ^ "Date Set for 28th March", Solomon Times, February 15, 2010
6. ^ "New MP for Shortlands", Solomon Star, April 1, 2011