HONIARA -- Matthew Wale was elected as the Solomon Islands' new prime minister by members of parliament on Friday, Governor General of the Solomon Islands David Tiva Kapu announced.

With former Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga withdrawing from the race just before the session began, opposition leader Wale won a 26-to-22 vote in the 50-seat parliament to defeat former Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Peter Shanel Agovaka.

Wale will take over the office from Jeremiah Manele, who was removed from office on May 7 after the parliament passed a motion of no-confidence.

"We take the government at a difficult time, given what is happening throughout the world," said Wale outside the parliament after Kapu announced the election result, noting that the government will exercise discipline and prudent management to navigate through these challenging times.

"Change is coming. These changes are necessary and may be painful. I ask that you join with your government in putting your hand to the plow. Let us all unite and count the cost of effecting the changes that are necessary to position our country to flourish," he said.

Born in 1968, Wale was elected as a Member of Parliament in a by-election in 2008. He lost the parliamentary vote for prime minister and became the Leader of the Opposition following the 2019 election. He was again nominated as a candidate for prime minister in the 2024 election but lost to Manele.